The Nakasero based Anti Corruption Court is concluding a significant case involving former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) engineer Umar Katongole. Accused of illicit enrichment and money laundering amounting to a staggering 6.2 billion shillings, Katongole, along with his wife, Hawa Sengendo, a community development officer at Luwero district local government, faces a pivotal moment in the judicial process.
The presiding authority, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, recently announced that on January 11, 2024, the court would sum up the case for the assessors. These assessors, non-lawyers who provide advisory opinions to the court, will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the trial. Their opinions, though not binding to the judge, hold substantial weight in the assessment of the accusations against Katongole and Sengendo.
Following the summation, the assessors will render their opinions on whether or not to convict the accused couple. However, the final decision rests with the judge, who will carefully consider the evidence presented during the trial.
The case, which took a turn on December 6, 2023, saw Katongole and Sengendo opt for silence in response to the court’s ruling that they must answer to the accusations. Choosing to let the court decide based on the evidence presented, the accused maintained a stoic demeanor as the legal proceedings unfolded.
The prosecution, led by Brenda Kimbugwe, the head of prosecution at the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), and senior inspectorate officer Sylvia Nabirye, has built a case asserting that Katongole intentionally obscured the origins of his properties located in Block 180, plots 1395, 1782, and 877 within Wakiso district. Allegations include the deliberate transfer of these properties to Darkins Uganda Ltd, concealing their illegal origin.
Furthermore, the prosecution claims that Sengendo played a role in concealing the transfer of another piece of land in Block 26, plots 280, 281, and 282 at Mengo to Darkins Uganda, a company linked to Katongole.
The financial aspect of the case is equally compelling. Prosecution contends that Katongole and Sengendo deposited a substantial sum, 2.8 billion shillings, in Tropical Bank Ltd between April 2011 and August 2015. This money, allegedly obtained illegally, was intentionally concealed in an attempt to disguise its source. Prosecution further asserts that Katongole transferred money from their joint account with Sengendo at Tropical Bank to Sengendo’s account in the same bank to further obscure its origins.
