A judge at the Anti-Corruption Court has cautioned that the court will not hesitate to issue arrest warrants for two prosecution witnesses in a case involving the alleged embezzlement of 3.7 billion Ugandan shillings from Western Cable Company Ltd.
Juliet Namuli Asiya, along with Robert Kimbowa and Joanita Nakatudde, is facing charges before Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.
Justice Kajuga, on April 30, 2024, extended summonses for Mary Nafuma and Justine Mukinda to appear in court on June 11 and June 25, 2024, to provide evidence. She warned that failure to honor the summonses would result in arrest warrants being issued for the witnesses.
The judge’s warning came after Chief State Attorney Abigail Agaba informed the court that Nafuma and Mukinda had failed to comply with previous summonses. Agaba presented an affidavit from Police Officer Anthony Wafula indicating the witnesses’ reluctance to appear in court.
Representing Nafuma, Namuli’s mother, lawyer Derrick Bazekuketta stated that she had traveled but would testify later.
Justice Okuo granted the witnesses another opportunity to appear in court on the specified dates.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorneys Abigail Agaba and Gloria Inzikuru from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), had requested arrest warrants, alleging that the witnesses were intentionally avoiding testifying.
According to the prosecution, Namuli, during her tenure as an accountant at Western Cable Company Ltd between January 2012 and December 31, 2016, embezzled 1.7 billion shillings. She is also accused of stealing an additional 1.3 billion shillings from the company between January 2014 and December 2016.
Furthermore, Namuli and Kimbowa allegedly stole 751 million shillings from the company between August 2015 and December 2016. They are also charged with money laundering, involving 1.7 billion shillings, and laundering an additional 751 million shillings through a DFCU Bank account.
The prosecution alleges that Nakatudde used fraudulent means to acquire property and borrowed 30 million shillings using it as security, knowing it was obtained through criminal activities.
The accused have denied the charges and are currently out on bail.
Western Cable Company Ltd manufactures cables for domestic and industrial purposes.
