The Anti-Corruption Court has convicted, the Human Resource Officer of Bugweri District Local Government, Mr. Wilson Byekwaso for causing a financial loss of UGX 125,376,925 to the Government of Uganda.
He was convicted on by His Worship Paul Mujuni of the Anti-Corruption Court.
The Court sentenced him to:
i)A fine of UGX 3,260,000, or seven years’ imprisonment in default;
ii)Refund of UGX 125,376,925 to the Government; and
iii)He was further barred from holding public office for 10 years from the date of conviction.
Mr. Byekwaso was convicted for using his access rights as a Human Resource Officer to enter the names of three individuals, Kadijja Namusubo, Policap Mukisa and Robert Muziraki onto the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) on 19 September 2022, indicating that they were newly recruited employees of Bugweri District Local Government posted to Busembatia Secondary School and yet they were not. In addition, the entries were made without following the required procedures for adding staff to the IPPS.
As a result, the three individuals received salaries from Government totaling UGX 125,376,925 between November 2022 and February 2024, paid through their accounts at DFCU Bank.
Investigations by IGG established that the three individuals were not employees of the Government of Uganda, and that their records were not available at Bugweri District Local Government.
Investigations further established that they had never served as teachers at Busembatia Secondary School.
During the hearing, following the presentation of incriminating evidence, Byekwaso changed his plea to guilty, leading to his conviction and sentencing.