Court of Appeal to hear 25 cases in 3 days

Story by URN

The Court of Appeal is set to hear at least 25 criminal appeals in three days starting today Monday, July 22.

The sessions that will address a range of criminal cases will be presided over by justices; Fredrick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende, Cheborion Barishaki, and Dr Asa Mugenyi. 

According to the case list, the appeals include six cases of murder, six cases of defilement, four cases of robbery, three cases of abuse of office, and two cases of rape. Additionally, there are single cases of giving false information, trespass and malicious damage, false pretense, and grievous harm.

Notably, two appellants are seeking to overturn life sentences, one for murder and the other for aggravated robbery. The state is also appealing in two cases, including an acquittal for abuse of office and a stay of proceedings in a trespass and malicious damage case.

One of the appeals involves Eng Robert Kakiiza, a former principal civil engineer at the ministry of Works and Transport, who was acquitted of abuse of office. The state is appealing the acquittal, seeking to overturn the lower court's decision.

Kakiiza was acquitted of corruption charges related to the infamous bicycle scam, where the government lost over $1.7 million (Shs 6.3 billion) in a raw deal that saw no single bicycle delivered into the country. The court presided over by justice Lawrence Gidudu found that Kakiiza was not responsible for the loss, as the issues of contract and performance were beyond his knowledge and scope of duties.

Additionally, the judge noted that there was no proof that Kakiiza was involved in changing the terms of the contract payment, which was a key factor in the scam. Others involved in the scandal were sentenced to serve time in jail for their roles in the corruption.

The appeals were filed between 2014 and 2023, and the Court of Appeal's decisions will have a profound impact on the lives of the appellants, their families, and the community at large.

Court of Appeal deputy registrar Lillian Bucyana noted that the Court of Appeal prioritizes appeals from the Anti-Corruption Division, regardless of the age of the appeal, once the lower court record is available. The outcome of these appeals will be closely watched by the public and the legal community.