Ex-Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya shortly after the charges of abuse of office relating to the 2007 Chogm car purchase deal were formally withdrawn. Photo by Anthony Wesaka.

Ex-Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya this Monday morning described President Museveni as having been supportive and disclosed that the President personally stood by him all through what he called ‘a political problem.’ Prof Bukenya’s expression of gratitude came minutes after the Anti-Corruption Court presided over by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire in Kampala this morning formally discharged him of abuse of office relating to the 2007 Chogm car purchase deal .
The discontinuation of the proceedings against Prof Bukenya was in response to the letter dated November 2 authored by the IGG Raphael Baku Obudra who asked the court to discontinue the proceedings against him.
“The case against Prof Bukenya is hereby discontinued. The accused is set at liberty unless held on other charges,” held Justice Bamugemereire. The IGG who was prosecuting Bukenya did not send any of his representatives in court. Court however expressed concern over the IGG absence and noted that their absence denied the public a chance to get an explanation on what necessitated the withdraw of the charges. The withdraw comes on the very day the hearing of the case was slated to start.
However, a separate charge of fraudulent practice where he is also implicated jointly with Motorcare still stands and will resume this Friday. Earlier on two occasions, the judiciary said it would stick to its constitutional mandate in dispensing justice irrespective of President Museveni's reported comments claiming the charges against his former immediate number two was politically motivated and insisted Prof. Bukenya was innocent.
During a Cabinet meeting held about two months ago, President Museveni also referred to a legal opinion from Attorney General Peter Nyombi, reportedly telling ministers that Prof. Bukenya did not steal any public funds. The decision however has raised questions on the independence of the ombudsman’s office and its ability to effectively investigate and pursue prosecution to its logical conclusion.
awesaka@ug.nationmedia.com