Corruption: OIG suspends two UPPC officials

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The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has ordered the suspension of Aristarco Mujuzi Kasekende, the financial accounting manager and accountant, and John Baptist Ahimbisibwe, an accountant, of the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) for abuse of office.

July 22 ban^nd2024, was sent to the UPPC Managing Director, Professor Sudi Nangoli, and signed by the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria.

The lawsuit is based on an ongoing court case in which the two men, along with three other former employees, were charged in May 2024 with causing financial losses to the company, in violation of Section 20(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 (as amended).

However, the other three suspects, Professor Tom Davis Wasiwa (former managing director), Victoria Namulondo (former agricultural sales manager) and Christine Mayengo (former finance and accounting manager), are yet to appear in court. They are reportedly still at large.

Pursuant to Section 230(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Section 14(6) of the Oversight of Government Act 2002, the Inspector General of Government (IGG) may make such orders and directions as are necessary and appropriate in the performance of his duties or in accordance with his findings.

Therefore, the two should not perform their duties until the prosecution is concluded.

Tom Wassava and others

He is charged with causing financial loss contrary to Section 20(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009, as amended. It is alleged that Professor Tom Davis Wasswa and John Baptist Ahimbisibwe, while the Managing Director and Acting Financial Accounting Manager of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation respectively between 1 May 2021 and 31 December 2021, approved and authorised the payment of Uganda shillings 37,500,000 (Thirty Seven Million Shillings) for a 10-day book fair without knowing or having reason to know that it would cause financial loss and that it did cause financial loss to Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation.

It is further alleged that between July 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, Professor Tom David Wasiwa and Christine Mayengo, as the Managing Director and Financial Accounting Manager of Uganda Printing and Publishing Company respectively, approved and authorised the payment of Uganda Shillings 110,545,000 (Eleven Billion Five Hundred and Forty Five Thousand Shillings) for the holding of a 21-day book exhibition in Africana without knowing or having reason to know that it would cause financial loss, which did cause financial loss to Uganda Printing and Publishing Company.

Furthermore, it is alleged that between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020, Professor Tom Davis Wasiwa and Aristako Mujuzi Kasekende, while serving as the Managing Director and Financial Accounting Manager of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation respectively, approved and authorised the payment of UGX 8,900,000 (Eight Million Nine Hundred Thousand Shillings) for the 12th Annual Higher Education Fair without them knowing or having reason to know that it would cause financial loss and that it did cause financial loss to Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation.

Between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020, Professor Tom David Wasswa and Aristarco Mujuzi Kasekende, the Managing Director and the Financial Accounting Manager of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation respectively, approved and authorised the payment of the sum of Uganda Shillings 27,860,000 (Twenty Seven Million Eight Hundred and Six Thousand Shillings) purportedly for a management retreat held at the Mansion Hotel, without them knowing or having reason to know that it would cause financial loss, which did cause financial loss to Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation to the amount of Uganda Shillings 27,860,000 (Twenty Seven Million Eight Hundred and Six Thousand Shillings).

Throne

On the misappropriation of public funds, it is alleged that Namulondo, while working as the Agricultural Sales Manager of Uganda Printing and Publishing Company between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, stole the sum of Uganda Shillings 219,472,300 (Twenty-one hundred and ninety-two thousand three hundred shillings) from her employer, Uganda Printing and Publishing Company, which she had access to by virtue of her position.

She was also charged with causing financial loss, contrary to section 20(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 as amended.

It is further alleged that between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, Namulondo, in his capacity as Agricultural Sales Manager of Uganda Printing and Publishing Company, misappropriated funds in the amount of Uganda Shs219,472,300 (Shs Two Hundred and Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand Three Hundred) to carry out various activities without knowing or having reason to know that such actions would result in financial loss, which did in fact cause a loss of Uganda Printing and Publishing Company to the amount of Uganda Shs219,472,300 (Shs Two Hundred and Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand Three Hundred).

Namulondo was also charged with false accounting as a public official, contrary to Section 22 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009.

It is alleged that Namulondo worked as an agricultural sales manager at Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, where she was responsible for managing public funds, and intentionally gave false statements in relation to the sum of Uganda Shillings 184,805,000 (One Hundred Eighty Four Thousand Eight Thousand Shillings) she received for various activities of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation.

With regard to abuse of office, contrary to Section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009, it is alleged that Namulondo, while serving as Deputy Sales Manager at Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, abused his position, acted arbitrarily, applied for and received the sum of Uganda Shillings 34,667,300 = (Thirty Four Million Six Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand Three Hundred Shillings) for the purpose of carrying out various activities of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation without providing any explanation therefor, which act was prejudicial to the interests of his employer, Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation.

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