FORMER Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has rejected summons in which he is facing charges of fraudulent transaction with Motorcare Uganda Limited.

The head of prosecution from the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Sarah Birungi, said Bukenya only accepted the summon in which he is charged alone with abuse of office.

He is alleged to have abused his office as the vice-president and the chairman of the CommonWealth Heads of Government Meeting Cabinet sub-committee.

Prosecution said on various dates between May and November 2007, Bukenya did unlawfully and highhandedly directed to be done arbitrary acts prejudicial to the interests of the Government. In abuse of his office, he influenced and directed the award of the contract for the supply of executive vehicles to Motorcare, in total disregard of laws, regulations and practices governing public procurements.

In the second charge, where he charged with Motorcare, Bukenya is alleged to have abused his office when unlawfully and highhandedly directed to be done arbitrary acts by influencing and directing the award of the contract for supply of 80 units of BMW cars and 1200RT Police outrider motorcycles intended for use during the Commonwealth summit.

Prosecution led by the IGG said he did this in total disregard of the laws, regulations and practices governingpublic procurement.

On Monday last week, the Anti-Corruption Court Principal Grade One Magistrate, Sarah Langa, issued criminal summons to Bukenya for his role in the Chogm expenditure.

He is required to appear in court on June16 at 9:00am.

Birungi yesterday said the summons were delivered by Lawrence Baraza, a process server with the IGG, on May30.

When contacted last week after the summons were issued, Bukenya said he would appear in court as required to answer the charges.

Birungi said: “He is supposed to answer the summons by appearing in court not replying to it”.

The investigation into the 2007 CHOGM activities was ordered by President Yoweri Museveni after the Auditor General published a report that the CHOGM bill increased from sh270b to sh400b.

The figure later went to sh500b.

In the Auditor General’s report, Bukenya is also accused of having authorised sh14b for Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, and instructing the grading of the road to his Garuga Hotel using CHOGM funds.