Police probe Baku over sh5b

Justice Irene Mulyagonja has replaced Raphael Baku as the IGG

By Vision reporter

The appointment of Justice Irene Mulyagonja surprised those who thought the acting IGG, Raphael Baku deserved the post considering his performance during the time he was acting.

New Vision online has discovered what may have failed Baku to assume the big shoes; he is being investigated over allegations from a whistleblower involving a sh5b land purchase that did not follow proper channels.

Police spokesperson Asuman Mugenyi confirmed that Police is investigating the IGG, but said he was out of office and could not give an update on the investigations. However, Baku said he was not aware of the investigation and referred Saturday Vision to Inspectorate spokesperson, Ali Munira, whose mobile phone was off throughout Thursday.

We have learnt that a whistleblower wrote to the President alleging that Baku made an illegal purchase of land on behalf of the Inspectorate.

The whistleblower also alleged that the sh930m the Inspectorate received from the Government to investigate CHOGM corruption was misused.

A reliable source said Baku saw an advert in the press, announcing sale of Plot 24/26 on Clement Hill Road and 71/74 on Yusuf Lule Road for sh4.5b.

The land belonged to Posta Uganda. Baku reportedly went to Posta Uganda to negotiate the purchase on behalf of the Inspectorate.

He is said to have initiated and concluded the deal for the purchase at sh5b in one day. The process did not follow the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act (PPDA). He also did not follow the inspectorate’s internal process.

This scandal is different from the sh9b purchase of a building belonging to M/S Somani Investments on plot 54A, Kira Road that PPDA stopped because the process was deemed not transparent.

The President is said to have directed the Police to investigate Baku, but, according to the source, when the investigators turned up at the IGG office, Baku reportedly cited Constitutional immunity and sent them away.

The Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura then wrote to the President about the legal inconveniences of investigating the IGG, but when the President contacted the Attorney General for advice, he was told that the IGG can be investigated.

The President then directed Kale Kayihura, to personally take up the matter.

Between October and November, Kayihura, accompanied by two officers reportedly interrogated Baku at his office on two consecutive days and sent the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The DPP, Richard Butera, reportedly recommended that the evidence was enough to incriminate Baku.

Thus the man who has arrested and prosecuted both big and small ‘fish’ in government over corruption may soon be charged with corruption and abuse of office.

When contacted for a comment, Butera said he would not deny or accept knowledge of the investigations, but referred us to the CID director. But efforts to reach her were futile because she was reportedly in a meeting.

Baku has been acting IGG since 2009, but the Constitutional court recently said the Inspectorate cannot prosecute crimes because it is not properly instituted.

Baku has investigated former Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya and ministers John Nasaasira, Sam Kutesa, Mwesigwa Rukutana, Mike Mukura, Alex Kamugisha and Jim Muhwezi, among others.

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