DPP loses interest in the UGX 1.4 billion fraud case involving police officer

Rachael Najjuma

27th May 2019

Director of Public Prosecution DPP Mike Chibita has withdrawn charges against Assistant Commissioner of Police Siraje Bakaleke and seven other suspects in the Anti Corruption Court.

The co-accused include City Lawyer Paul Wanyoto Mugoya, Samuel Nabeta Mulowooza, the managing director Eye Power Engineering Company and police officers, Siraje Bakaleke, Robert Munezero, Innocent Nuwagaba, Robert Ray Asiimwe, Junior Amanya, Babu Gastavas and Kenneth Zirintuusa.

The State Prosecutor Harriet Ongom this morning appeared before Grade one Magistrate Moses Nabende where she tendered a Nolle Prosequi document against the suspect that shows that the DPP is no longer interested in the case but did not give reasons.

The suspects have been battling charges embezzlement, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretense amounting to UShs 1.4 billion from Korean investors, conspiracy to defraud, kidnapping with intention to confine and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Grade one Magistrate Nabende has accordingly withdrawn the charges against them pending re arrest.

Bakaleke and Wanyoto had previously petitioned court seeking to block their trial on grounds that the DPP instituted charges against them in bad faith before finalising with investigations.

But High Court Judges Lydia Mugambe and Musa Ssekaana in separate judgments ordered the suspects to face the trial citing that they didn’t have powers to interfere with the work of the Director of Public Prosecution.

In 2018 Police declared Bakaleke a deserter after going into hiding due to these charges.
Last month, Police again declared Bakaleke as a wanted person although his whereabouts are not known.