BY URN
The former principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Prof Wasswa Balunywa, has been remanded to Luzira Prison by the Anti-Corruption court on two separate case files, both alleging abuse of office.
Balunywa, today, Tuesday, appeared before Chief Magistrate Rachael Nakyazze, faces charges in two distinct cases.
In the first file, he is accused of arbitrarily recruiting three administrative assistants, James Arike, Nimrod Kakayi, and Nathan Niwagira, between March 18 and March 28, 2023. The prosecution alleges that Balunywa hired these individuals despite knowing they did not meet the minimum academic qualifications, thereby causing ineligible costs to the government.
In this case, he is jointly charged with Jacqueline Namaganda, the acting human resource director at MUBS, who was granted a Shs 4 million cash bail last week. The second case alleges that between 2020 and 2023, Balunywa abused his office by irregularly recruiting approximately 200 staff members, a role that is reserved for the appointments committee.
Balunywa pleaded not guilty to both charges. The principal assistant director of public prosecutions (DPP), Caroline Nabaasa, informed the court that investigations are complete and requested an adjournment to share disclosures and commence the trial.
Balunywa’s lawyers, Shamim Nalule and Asuman Matovu, applied for bail on the first case file and requested the court to adopt the same sureties for both cases. However, the magistrate denied the request, stating that new sureties were required for the second file.
The lawyers argued that the offences are bailable and that Balunywa, who learned of the case through media reports, voluntarily appeared in court. They offered his valid Ugandan passport and a land title as security.
Among those who offered themselves as sureties were prominent individuals, including Balunywa’s brother, Muhammed Ngoma (vice chancellor at Kampala International University), Prof Sudi Nangoli (managing director of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation), and Balunywa’s son, Ali Balunywa (sales director at Airtel Uganda).
The prosecution objected to the bail application, expressing concerns over the sureties’ ability to ensure Balunywa’s attendance in court, noting that they were either younger or personally connected to the accused.
They also pointed out that Balunywa only appeared in court after a criminal summons was issued. Balunywa will return to court on September 5 for the ruling on the first bail application and the hearing of the application for the second file.
Balunywa and Namaganda are part of a group of 30 people accused of causing a total financial loss of Shs 53 billion to the government across various agencies, including the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and the Uganda Police Force.
, Prof Wasswa Balunywa, has been remanded to Luzira Prison.){kind=link}