In a recent decision, the Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of two former Camp Commandants who served at the Bidi-Bidi refugee settlement camp, which operated under the Office of the Prime Minister. The convictions were related to the mismanagement of shillings 393 million.
The case initially saw Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga of the Anti-Corruption Court finding Robert Baryamwesiga and Fred Kiwanuka guilty of both abuse of office and corruption. Following their convictions, the two individuals filed appeals against the court’s decision.
Robert Baryamwesiga had been found guilty on two counts of corruption and was sentenced to a prison term of 3 years, while Fred Kiwanuka faced a conviction on one count of corruption, leading to a sentence of two and a half years in prison.
In their appeals, Baryamwesiga and Kiwanuka argued that the trial judge made errors in both law and fact, particularly by relying on uncorroborated evidence. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed these claims as untrue.
The Court of Appeal panel, led by Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera and including Justices Egonda Ntende and Monica Mugenyi, conducted a thorough review of the case. Ultimately, they upheld the decision made by the Anti-Corruption Court.
The ruling declared, “This appeal is hereby dismissed, and the appellants’ convictions and sentences are upheld. The cross-appeal is allowed, with the following orders: Robert Baryamwesiga, the first cross-respondent, is directed to forfeit shillings 264,640,000 to the government, and Fred Kiwanuka, the second cross-appeal respondent, is to forfeit shillings 129,000,000 to the government.”
