President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pardoned John Muhanguzi Kashaka, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, who had been convicted on charges of corruption. Kashaka had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in causing financial loss to the government.
The corruption case, dating back to 2014, involved the procurement of bicycles intended for Local Council leaders (LC1s). Kashaka, alongside his colleague Henry Bamutura (now deceased), fraudulently contracted a fake company to supply 70,000 bicycles, leading to a financial loss of Shs4.2 billion Both were found guilty by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court and were sentenced for their actions.
Kashaka’s earliest possible release date had been set for April 2021, but it was delayed after the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions in December 2019. On 16th March 2020, Bamutura, who had served less than a year in prison, was granted bail by the Supreme Court, but he passed away shortly after.
Kashaka’s pardon comes after serving 5 years, 2 months, and 9 days of his 10-year sentence. This decision by the President, under Article 121 (1) (a) of the 1995 Constitution, grants him a fresh start after his involvement in one of the country’s significant corruption cases.
The Commissioner of Prisons, Moses Ssentalo, confirmed the release in a press statement, acknowledging that Kashaka had been awarded compensation alongside the pardon.
This pardon marks a significant moment in Uganda’s judicial and political landscape, raising questions about justice, accountability, and the use of presidential powers in high-profile cases.
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