The registrar of Makerere University has been barred from holding public office for ten years as a result of the graduation saga
The deputy academic registrar also hired JAALC Uganda Limited to provide drinks and food vending at the graduation ceremony, despite the university's prohibition on food, drinks, phones, and cameras.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has barred a Makerere University Academic Registrar from holding office for ten years after he was found guilty of abusing his position by violating procurement laws, regulations, and procedures at the university’s 67th graduation ceremony in 2017.
Margaret Etuusa Lubega Loy was removed from office in 2017 for improperly hiring companies and people to provide various services for the graduation ceremony, including phone answering, drinks, food, and flower vending, in violation of procurement laws.
While working as deputy academic registrar at Makerere University, Etuusa hired Exxon Contractors Ltd to provide phone-keeping services for the graduation ceremony on February 15, 2017.
The deputy academic registrar also hired JAALC Uganda Limited to provide drinks and food vending at the graduation ceremony, despite the university’s prohibition on food, drinks, phones, and cameras.
By hiring Milton Egayu to provide flower vending services at the ceremony, she also broke procurement laws and regulations.
Etuusa was found guilty of four counts of abuse of office in violation of section 11(i) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 by Justice Margaret Tibulya on Wednesday.
“There is sufficient evidence that the accused awarded Milton Egayu the contract for flower vending services, and I accordingly enter convictions for abuse of office against the accused on counts 1,2, 3, and 4,” the judge said.
Sentence
Etuusa was sentenced to a fine of Shs1 million or two years in prison for each of the four counts by the judge.
Etuusa, on the other hand, chose to pay the shs4 million fine and was released.
However, the judge added to the convict’s punishment by prohibiting her from holding any public office for a period of ten years.
“The convict is hereby disqualified from holding a public office for a period of ten years from today, in accordance with Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009,” Justice Margaret Tibulya ruled.
