Grapevine

Museveni pardons former PS involved in Shs4.2b bicycle scam

President Yoweri Museveni has pardoned the former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, Mr John Muhanguzi Kashaka and the late Henry Bamutura who were sentenced to 10 years in jail for causing government a financial loss of Shs4.2 billion meant to purchase bicycles for local council leaders.

In a statement issued by the Uganda Prisons Services’ Assistant Commissioner of Prisons Moses Ssentalo, Museveni's pardon, granted under Article 121(1) (a) of the Constitution, brought an end to Kashaka's imprisonment and Bamutura (posthumous) on Thursday.

In October 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the 10-year jail term handed over to Kashaka and Bamutura by the Anti-Corruption Court in 2014. Their conviction was also first upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2019.

The Supreme Court panel of five Justices led by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo in October 2023 upheld Kashaka’s conviction with that of Bamutura, while Sam Emorut Erongot who had been handed the highest sentence for 13 years was set free.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold Kashaka's conviction was based on evidence presented during the trial. The court ruled that the Court of Appeal correctly evaluated the evidence against Kashaka and Bamutura.