President Yoweri Museveni has pardoned 13 convicts, including the former Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), David Chandi Jamwa, who has been serving a 12-year jail term for causing the government a financial loss of Shs3 billion.
Others pardoned include Vincent Ntale, Nelson Drabo, James Omirambe, Samuel Aliama, Francis Leku, Joseph Kabila, Yoha Ayita (alias Samu), Fred Kato, Jackson Owino, Zakaria Okello, Nono Joseph, and Ouma Mesach John (alias Jojmabo).
“In accordance with Article 121 (4) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, H.E the President has granted pardon to a total of 13 prisoners on public health and humanitarian grounds,” reads the statement from the Uganda Prisons Services.
Jamwa had been serving a 12-year jail sentence for causing a financial loss to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). He was indicted by the High Court on two counts of abuse of office and causing financial loss contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Although he was acquitted of the offense of abuse of office, he was convicted of causing financial loss and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, with a bar on holding any public office for 10 years.
He appealed to the Court of Appeal against the conviction and sentence. The Attorney General also appealed to the Court of Appeal against the acquittal. The two appeals were consolidated by the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Jamwa’s appeal. Instead, he was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for the offense of abuse of office, to run concurrently with the 12 years imposed by the trial judge for the offense of causing financial loss.