Uganda Charges 3 Former Government Officials with Corruption

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
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A Ugandan court on Thursday brought corruption charges against three recently resigned government officials.

Prosecutors in Uganda's High Court charged former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, ex-Junior Labor Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana and onetime parliamentary leader John Nasasira with abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government.

The charges were related to the disappearance of nearly $5 million from government coffers in 2007, when Uganda hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

The government officials stepped down on Wednesday ahead of their appearance in the anti-corruption court, but have maintained their innocence.

They said they stepped down to allow the court to complete its work and in the interest of the government and its ruling party.

The men face up to 13 years in prison if convicted.