The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHAC-U), in partnership with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has arraigned Elijah Martin Rusoke before the Kampala City Council (KCCA) Chief Magistrates Court on charges of giving false information and making false declarations to obtain a second passport.
According to the SHAC-U statement released on May 3, 2024, the accused fraudulently acquired a second passport in an attempt to escape prosecution since he had earlier deposited his passport as a condition for his release on bail in a case under investigation by the Unit.
“In 2022, Rusoke was suspected to be part of a group that defrauded Kenyan nationals of USD 361,151, approximately over UGX1.37Bn, in a sham contract for the supply of generators to various hospitals in Uganda,“ the statement read in part.
The statement further stated that Rusoke is also being investigated for his alleged involvement in the defraud of USD 3.8 million, approximately UGX 14 billion, from a Turkish company, Guner Kuzu Construction, in a purported procurement for the construction of hospitals in Uganda, a fraud that was committed using law firms, M/s Balon Advovates and Kato & Co. Rusoke has therefore been remanded until May 23, 2024.
In a similar incident, on August 30, 2023, Rusoke was arraigned before the KCCA Chief Magistrates Court on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to commit a felony, where he was remanded until September 12, 2023.
The law stipulates that anyone convicted under Section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act may face a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine not exceeding UGX 5.3 million. Likewise, an individual found guilty under Section 190(1) for fraudulent procurement could be sentenced to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years.
