The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has ordered police to arrest on sight lawyer Fred Makada, for failure to appear in court despite several summons. He is accused of stealing 1.2 billion shillings from the Busoga Growers Cooperative Union.
Makada is jointly charged with three others including John Matovu, Jinja District Commercial Officer James Muganza and Charles Basoga, the Chairperson of Busoga Growers Cooperative Union who have since been granted bail.
On Friday, Acting Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Abert Asiimwe issued the warrant of arrest for Makada after a request from the Prosecutors and contradictions in the documents presented by his lawyer Brian Sserunjogi on his absence.
The prosecution, led by Baine Stanley and Anna Kiiza from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, contested the documents saying that there were discrepancies in Makada’s alleged travel to the United States for medical treatment.
The travel document indicated that Makada had travelled to the United States of America on July 12th 2024 to nurse a blood clot; yet the Police Case File shows that Makada recorded a statement at Police on August 9th 2024; something the State refused to buy arguing that there is no way he could have left the Country.
As a result, the court ruled that Makada’s behavior and that of his lawyer violated the accused’s right to a fair and speedy trial and hindered the prosecution’s ability to conclude investigations.
Asiimwe ordered the police to arrest Makada and bring him to court by October 18th 2024.
Prosecution alleges that while employed as the Chairperson of Busoga Growers Union between 2018 and 2023 in Jinja District, Basoga received 569.5 million Shillings for war loss compensation, but put the money to personal use.
It is also alleged that that while employed as a District Commercial Officer, Muganza, in abuse of authority of his employer received 250 million Shillings of the said money, while Matovu and Makada reportedly took four billion, fifty one million and five hundred thousand and 1.2 billion Shillings respectively.
The main case was adjourned to October 18, 2024, while Matovu’s application to block his prosecution is scheduled for hearing on September 19th 2024.
This is the second file of suspects being brought to the Anti-corruption court for charges related to theft of multi billions of cooperatives cash.
The first group involves three MPs; Michael Mawanda, Mudimi Womakuyu, and Paul Akamba, a lawyer, Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali and trade official who were granted bail last week after spending more than 70 days in Luzira prison.
They are jointly charged with Leonard Kavundira, a Principal Cooperative Officer in the ministry of Trade, and city lawyer, Julius Kirya Taitankoko.