The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Former Minister of Works and Transport Engineer Abraham Byandala has defended himself before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala for his alleged role in the Mukono-Katosi road saga that saw government lose over Sh24 billion to contractor.
Byandala and six others are accused of embezzling the said money from government between 2013 and 2014. The money was meant to upgrade the 72km- Mukono-Katosi road from gravel to bitumen.
Byandala gave his testimony under oarth, undertaking to tell court the truth.
The 68-year-old Legislator representing Katikamu North Constituency told presiding Judge Lawrence Gidudu that he never irregularly wrote a letter directing the signing of the contract between UNRA and Eutaw Construction Company, but he was acting on the advice of the Solicitor General and UNRA Advisor who gave a “no objection” to the commencement of the said works.
Byandala also denied ever coming across an IGG letter of July 17,2014 ordering him to stop the said works, and maintained that the woman prosecution claims to be have given this letter to him, is not his secretary, although she works in his office.
He testified that prosecution led by IGG’s office ought to have brought this woman only identified as Matilda as a witness, and also bring his State Minister John Byabagambi to clarify on what exact directives he (Byandala) made to him in relation to the said works, before his trip to China. Both of them were not called to the dock.
Byandala contended that he has no habit of disobeying people, and could not have disobeyed the IGG if he had seen IGG’s letter.
Byandala also said he was surprised to hear from prosecution that he wrote the letter directing the signing of the said contract, before due diligence had been carried out, yet the PPDA Act clearly states that this can be done before, during and after signing of the contract.
However in cross-examination by the head of Prosecution at IGG’s office, Brenda Kimbugwe, it became clear that Byandala’s letter dated November 13,2013 was a directive which left the acting UNRA Executive Director Eng. Kimezze Ssebbugga with no option, but to sign the contract with Eutaw despite the fact that due diligence was not yet completed.
This contract was eventually terminated on December 12, 2014 because Eutaw lacked capacity to deliver on the contract, since there was no connection between its representatives in Uganda and those of Eutaw Mississipi which had bid and awarded the contract.
Although he denied receipt of IGG,s letter Byandala conceded that he had received information from the Acting UNRA ED, that works had stopped much as he doesn’t know who stopped the works.
Byandala is jointly charged with ex-UNRA officials Berunado Kimeze Ssebbugga, Joe Ssemugooma, Gary Wilberforce Senjako, Marvin Baryaruha, city businessman Apollo Senkeeto, and Isaac Mugote a former Housing Finance Bank official battling charges of abuse of office, causing financial loss, corruption and theft.
Byandala is alleged to have influenced the procurement process that led to the award of the tender to Eutaw.
