Uganda’s President has graciously decided to release the former Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), David Chandi Jamwa, and a delightful dozen of his equally misunderstood colleagues from the shackles of prison in a stunning display of public health and humanitarian concern.
Jamwa, who skillfully orchestrated a premature bond selling spectacle at the defunct Crane Bank, found himself sentenced to a cozy 12-year stay in the luxury resort known as Luzira Prison back in 2011. More than a decade. the presidential pardon has descended like a golden parachute to save him and 12 other undeserving souls.
Jamwa, who previously demonstrated his financial acumen by causing a mere Shs3 billion financial loss to the government, is now free to grace the world with his expertise once again. Apparently, selling treasury bonds prematurely is just the kind of financial wizardry that deserves a round of applause and, evidently, a presidential pardon.
Frank Mayanja Baine, the spokesperson for Uganda Prisons, delivered the news with an air of benevolence fit for a fairy godparent in a statement that surely left no one scratching their heads. “This afternoon, we received an instrument in regard to a prerogative of mercy for 13 prisoners,” Baine announced, as if unlocking prison doors were the latest fad in charity work. What’s mercy if it isn’t bestowed instrumentally?
The presidential pardon isn’t discriminatory. It generously extends its embrace to a diverse group of lawbreakers. The list of pardon attainers reads like a who’s who of the misunderstood and wrongfully convicted. A grand total of 11 individuals, charmingly labeled as “defilement enthusiasts,” are among the lucky recipients of presidential grace, as well as a special guest appearance by one Jackson Owino, convicted for manslaughter. Yes, you read that right – defilement. Apparently, the presidential pardon is now a free pass for those with a penchant for morally reprehensible acts.
Let’s delve into the details with a handy table, because what’s more heartwarming than summarizing the sins of the pardoned in neat, organized rows?
| Name | Offence | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| David Chandi Jamwa | Causing financial loss | 12 years |
| Vincent Ntale | Defilement | 4.5 years |
| Nelson Drabo | Defilement | 20 years |
| James Omirambe | Defilement | 6 years |
| Samuel Aliama | Defilement | 3 years |
| Francis Leku | Defilement | 3 years |
| Joseph Kabila | Defilement | 3 years |
| Yoha Ayitia alias Samu | Defilement | 4 years |
| Fred Kato (Not Kajubi) | Defilement | 7 years |
| Zakaria Okello | Defilement | 5 years |
| Joseph Nono | Defilement | 5 years |
| Jackson Owino | Manslaughter | 6 years |
| John Mesach Ouma | Defilement | 7 years |
Table: To help you keep track of this extraordinary release, we have published a handy table breaking down the crimes and sentences of the lucky 13.
In case you were wondering, this grand gesture of mercy is provided for in the Ugandan law under Article 121 (4) (a) of the 1995 constitution. Who knew that mercy could be so conveniently legislated? It’s almost poetic how a stroke of the presidential pen can turn prison bars into mere suggestions.
