Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, the Head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit (PHOTO /Courtesy)
KAMPALA — The State House’s Anti-Corruption Unit has raided the home of Mr. Robert Sengooba — taking with them assets belonging to the ex-envoy’s son who is reported to have fled the country to exile citing political persecutions.
Sources close to the unit told this website that Mr. Sengooba is accused of amassing illegal wealth, treasonous acts, offensive communication and disturbing the peace of the President.
The other cases include engaging in sodomy, a highly prohibited and ungodly act on the land.
Court had recently directed Kirunda M a Court bailiff & General Auctioneers to auction Sengooba’s two posh cars, Rangrover and Mercedes benz valued at UGX 530 millions, adding on his posh Old Kampala home at Plot 231, his Lussam INN Hotel at Plot 9-10A in Rubaga Division.
Others properties included a Gas station at block 1B Maya, Mpigi district valued at 600,000,(usd) all assets are valued at UGX5.6 billions.
Since 2011, Mr. Sengooba’s lawyers Snr counsel Kibedi E and Sematiko who have been at the helm of the case had argued that their client could afford to own those assets because Sengooba’s parents were rich and hard working.
Court had asked Counsel Kibedi to explain how his client (Sengooba) got all that wealth, Kibedi argued that Sengooba’s mother was a permanent secretary in Ministry of Local Government for 20 years, a business woman owning 2 Pearl Forex bureaus, one in Kampala and another in Nairobi, Kenya, Gas station.
Sengooba’s father, Late, Amb. Bakayana was permanent Secretary in Foreign Affairs for 5 years.
He served as an envoy for 10 years.
Sengooba, inherited his late father’s Estates.
Kibedi, further argued that his client, Sengooba is a smart hard working young man.
When asked whether he is not afraid of death threats coming from “deep state actors” He charged that “subsection (3) of advocate’s act don’t allow him to drop clients’ cases”
Mr. Sengoba’s lawyers from Byamugisha, Lubega, Achenge & Co Advocates had argued that State House Anti Corruption Unit is illegal, inconsistent with paragraph 11(i) & V (i) of national objectives & directive principles of State policy & article 1, 20, 23, 27, 28, 44, 99(3) of the constitution, and they had asked court to declare that State House Anti Corruption Unit is not Constitutional empowered to take people’s assets beacuse it is not stipulated in laws of Uganda.
They had asked Court to declare that all activities done by Lt. Col. Edith A Nakalema against Mr. Sengooba were illegal and in contravention within constitution.
However the Unit’s legal advisor Mr.Ochwo.E agreed with judge and dismissed the application with costs on the side of applicants and for wasting court’s time.
President Yoweri Museveni officially launched the State House Anti-corruption unit to handle corruption complaints including extortion at roadblocks, bribery and nepotism and embezzlement of public funds.
The unit has since been challenged for allegedly usurping the powers of the inspectorate of government (IG).
Recommended for you
