The Court of Appeal has kicked off the hearings of 50 Criminal Appeals which include an appeal by the Inspectorate of Government against the acquittal of former minister of works and transport, Eng. Abraham Byandala and three others named in the Mukono-Katosi road scam. The scam led to a Shs 24.7 billion loss to the Government.
The session which is slated to last three weeks will be presided over by the Deputy Chief Justice, Richard Buteera and Justices; Elizabeth Musoke Cheborion Barishaki and Muzamiru Kibeedi.
The Justices will equally hear an appeal by Joe Ssemugooma and two others who are appealing against their conviction by the Anti-Corruption Court. Mr Ssemugooma and one of his co-appellants were handed a five-year jail term while another was sentenced to 10-years. The trio is currently out on bail, pending determination of their appeal.
The Registrar in Charge of the Criminal Registry at the Court, Ms Mary Kaitesi, pointed out that the highest number of appeals to be handled during this session are those in respect to Aggravated Defilement convictions (17) and Murder (17). Adding that the others to be handled are Aggravated Robbery (09), Rape (02), Malicious Damage (02), and Forgery (01).
