Bicycle scandal: Court of Appeal upholds Kashaka’s 10-year sentence

Bamugemereire sent them to jail, barred them from holding any government office for ten years and ordered them to compensate the government for the loss.  

However, the convicts challenged their respective sentences and conviction, arguing that it was harsh and not valid in law. They also argued that the lower court judge erred in law and fact, when, she failed to apply provisions of the PPDA Act in determining the ingredients of the offence of financial loss committed by the appellants, as a result of the procurement transaction.  

However, in an appeals judgment, the three Court of Appeal judges; Elizabeth Musoke, Hellen Obura, and Christopher Madrama agreed on the upholding of the said sentences. They also acquitted a consultant Timothy Musherure, of any wrongdoing, and abetted an appeal by Robert Mwebaze, the procurement officer because he died before it was determined.  

However, the justices disagreed on the issue of compensation of money to the government. The dissenting judge, Madrama argues in his judgment that justice Banugemereire erred while ordering for compensation citing that it was not prescribed for in law. 

However, justices Obura and Musoke maintained the order for compensation to the government for all suspects save for Musherure who is acquitted. They argued that the lower court had made it clear that the sentence is to deter other people from committing corruption-related scandals. 

The group has since been out on bail and they started serving their respective sentences today afternoon. However, it has been reported that Sam Erongot, one of the suspects disappeared from the court premises shortly after the verdict. He is accordingly being hunted by security forces.