The trial in which the suspended state minister for labour, employment and industrial relations, Herbert Kabafunzaki, is accused of soliciting for sh15m gratification kicks off today.
The trial will be conducted at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo before Justice Margaret Tibulya.
On June 28, Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Agnes Alum committed Kabafunzaki and his co-accused to High Court for trial, after state attorney Barabra Kawuma told court that inquiries were complete.
Kabafunzaki, Brian Mugabo and a one Bruce Lubowa are battling corruption-related offences. The trio is purported to have solicited and obtained money from AYA Group chief executive officer Mohammed Hamid, in exchange to have his (Hamid) name cleared of sexual assault allegations against him.
Prosecution alleges that Kabafunzaki solicited a gratification from Hamid.
“A1 (Kabafunzaki) told the complainant to increase the amount to sh15m if he wanted a “good job” to be done and from which sh10m would be his (Kabafunzaki) and sh5m was to cater for journalists,” states the summary of evidence.
Prosecution alleges that Kabafunzaki’s co-accused Lubowa and Hamid met at Aya Hotel on April 8, and also negotiated a lawyer’s legal fee of sh3m.
The summary of evidence does not mention the name of the lawyer. It is also not stated what exactly the lawyer was supposed to do.
“A3 (Lubowa) went back to the hotel and met the complainant (Hamid) and negotiated over the lawyer’s fee which they reduced to sh3m and the fee was payable to Kabafunzaki,” the summary states.
It is purported that Kabafubzaki asked that sh5m to be paid immediately and the balance would be paid on April 11, 2017.
Prosecution said after negotiations at Serena Hotel in Kampala, Hamid purportedly removed a brown envelope which contained sh5m and placed it on the table and Kafunzaki instructed his aide Mugabo to pick the money.
Kawuma said video footage showing how the alleged offence and the sh5m that Kabafunzaki purportedly received through his aide will be used as evidence during the trial.
