Anti-Corruption Court
 

Monday 22nd November	Uganda Vs Onzu Ismail and 3 others	for mention
	Uganda Vs Eng Otto Francis	for Hearing
Tuesday 23rd November 2010	Uganda Vs Kakongoro Beatrice	for mention
	Uganda Vs Eng Otto Francis	for Further Hearing
Wednesday 24th November 2010	Angella Amuge Vs Uganda
	Uganda Vs Sebudde Stephen	for mention
	Uganda Vs Asiimwe Vincent	for hearing
	Uganda Vs Adimo Alaba Mark	for mention
	Uganda Vs Ocuma Godfrey

In Gulu Court

22nd – 25th November 2010	Uganda Vs Eng Otto Francis (District Water Engineer for Pader District)
22nd – 25th November 2010	Uganda Vs Okongo Denis and Kilara Benson

In Mbarara Court

22nd November 2010

Uganda Vs Musinguzi Balan (Agricultural Officer, Kayonza Sub-County – Ntungamo District)

We are pleased to announce the publication of the IG report on corruption. As always, a copy of this report is available for your viewing pleasure.
IG Report on Corruption

We are pleased to announce the release of the period January-June Report to Parliament.
Report to Parliament January-June

The Executive Committee of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), meeting at the Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, from 29th – 30th July 2010, having received and considered the report of the Executive Secretary and the Plan of Action presented by the President of AOMA;

Noting that the institution of Ombudsman and Mediators are crucial for achievement of the rule of law and good governance, and;
Noting the need to strengthen AOMA as a continental organisation determined to make a positive contribution in promoting the rule of law and good governance:

RESOLVES as follows:

• A Committee chaired by the 2nd Vice President, madam M'Bam Diarra be and is hereby set up to review the Constitution of AOMA, with a view to prescribing the official languages of AOMA, resolving the issue of headquarters of AOMA, and addressing the issue of admission of non-participating Ombudsman into AOMA, and addressing any matter it may deem appropriate. The Committee shall report to the Executive Committee at its next meeting.
• A Newsletter be published as a medium of communication among AOMA members, initially producing two publications in a year.
• The President and Executive Secretary are mandated to pursue the affiliation of AOMA with the African Union Commission and the United Nations Organisation.
• The AOMA website be routinely updated and connected to the website of members so that the activities of AOMA and its members are fully published at the website or accessible through it.
• The President, Executive Secretary and Regional Coordinators should encourage Ombudsman and Mediators who are not yet members of AOMA to join the Association; and encourage countries that do not have the institution of Ombudsman or Mediator to establish them.
• The current Research Centre Board of Directors be deemed to be an Interim Board charged with the responsibility of working out the modalities for establishing the Centre as a non-profit African Ombudsman Institute, with functions of conducting research and training matters of governance, popularization of the institution of Ombudsman and mediators, among other functions.
• The President and Executive Secretary should compile a list of potential donors and approach them to solicit for their support to AOMA.
• In order to achieve the above the Secretariat should develop and circulate a strategic plan to be considered at the next meeting of the Executive Committee to be held in South Africa, if possible as part of the activities to mark the launching of the African Ombudsman Institute.

Court has re-instated the case against Former Board Chairperson NSSF Mr Onegi Obel of causing financial loss of Ushs 18bn. This follows the dismissal of the case on 23rd August by court on grounds that the IGG was not represented. However, the IGG was not served with a hearing notice and thus did not appear on that day. However, The Inspector General of Government, Mr Raphael Baku applied for the re-instating of the Case and the accused will appear in court on Thursday 16th September 2010.

Highlights
The Inspectorate of Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Ministry of Supervision of the People's Republic of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding sealing a new partnership between the two countries on 17th August 2010.
The Inspectorate of Government and the Ministry of Supervision have the legal mandate to promote good governance, foster strict adherence to the rule of law and eliminate corruption and maladministration and abuse of office in public offices in their respective countries;

The major objective of this partnership is to enhance the cooperation and relations between the two institutions in the areas of interest with the aim that this reciprocal exchange of expertise, views and information enhances the work of both institutions.

The areas of focus for the partnership include; Exchange of Information and Exchange of Delegations. Exchange of Information

The MOU will see the two institutions share information concerning corruption as far as possible, with a view of developing a common understanding of corruption and sharing information on best practices to prevent and combat corruption.

Exchange of Delegations
The two institutions shall exchange delegations once every two years to share experiences and expertise. Each institution shall send a delegation of at least three members of staff.

Benefits of the Partnership

• Training: Staff from the two institutions will be The partnership will
• Investigation Skills: the two institutions will share experiences on investigation skills and handling.
• Asset Recovery: Through the partnership, assets that have been acquired illegally and invested abroad will be recovered. The Government of China and Uganda, will monitor investments in their countries and inform the partnering government in the event that there are suspicions of particularly public officials having huge investments abroad.

This partnership comes at a time when Government of Uganda continues the fight against corruption by enacting the Anti-Corruption Act and establishing the Anti-Corruption Court.

The MOU was signed by the Inspector General of Government Mr Baku Raphael Obudra on behalf of the Inspectorate of Government of the Republic of Uganda and Mr Wang Wei, Vice Minister of Supervision on behalf of the Peoples' Republic of China.

The Senior Planner of Pader District Mr Bongomin Richard Akal was convicted by the Anti-Corruption on Wednesday 12th August on five counts. In the Charge signed by the IGG, it was noted that Mr Bongomin received a total sum of Ushs 34,000,000 (Thirty Four Million Shillings) from Pader LGDP II bank account No 0140029000801 held at Stanbic Bank Kitgum branch and failed to account for Ushs 15,504,000 meant for holding parish development committee trainings in bottom-up planning in Agago and Aruu counties, which acts were pre-judicial to the interests of his employer.

He was also charged with Embezzlement of Ushs 15,504,000 out of the Ushs 34,000,000 (Thirty Four Million Shillings) that he received from Pader LGDP II bank account No 0140029000801 held at Stanbic Bank Kitgum branch, which money was meant for holding two parish development committee training on bottom-up planning in Agago and Aruu counties to which he had access by virtue of his office.

Other offences include False accounting, Forgery and Uttering a False document.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Irene Akakwansa, Mr Bongomin has been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for Embezzlement, 3 years imprisonment for Abuse of office, one year imprisonment Falsely accounting, 2 years imprisonment on Forgery and 2 years imprisonment for Uttering a False document.

The sentence is to be served concurrently together with a mandatory order for Bongomin Richard Akal to refund 11,178,000 (Ushs Eleven Million one hundred and seventy eight thousand) as the money Embezzled.