The Anti-corruption court on September 5, 2023 charged and remanded two engineers from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to Luzira prison over corruption and abuse of office.

Mr. Dathan Nuwagaba Kahima and Ms. Pamella Besigye are engineers attached the OPM under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).

However, the duo who appeared before Grade One Magistrate, Ms. Esther Asiimwe, denied the charges.

The duo allegedly received a bribe of UGX 689,260,000 from various companies and persons as a reward for recommending them for various tenders/contracts for execution of works and services under DRDIP between February 2021 and June 2022.

The duo is also accused of allegedly influencing the award of the said tenders to companies that offered bribes, an act that is arbitrary prejudicial to the interest of their employers and other competent companies.

According to the charge sheet, the duo is charged with two other businessmen, Mr. Denis Masiko and Mr. Patrick Omla, who allegedly bribed their way into the award of the said tenders.

Mr. Masiko’s company, Tashil (U) Ltd, allegedly deposited UGX190M to Mr. Nuwagaba’s company (Ark Consult and Engineering Ltd) bank account in Centenary Bank, Mapeera. Mr. Omla also allegedly deposited UGX15M to the same account.

Prosecutors from the IG, Mr. Rogers Kinobe and Ms. Jackie Mawemuko informed court that they were finalizing investigations into the case.

The prosecutors also applied for criminal summons to be issued to the two businessmen.