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Former MTN Uganda exec imprisoned

Richard Mwami, the operator's former business manager and head of public access, is incarcerated on charges of embezzlement.

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 24 Apr 2013

The former business manager and head of public access at the Ugandan unit of SA's MTN has been charged with embezzlement and remanded to Luzira prison, in the capital city of Kampala, until next week.

Richard Mwami, who is accused of stealing over UGX5 billion (R17.8 million) from MTN, was charged yesterday and remanded to Luzira prison by the country's anti-corruption chief, magistrate Irene Akankwasa, who has denied his application for bail, given the "large sums of money involved".

According to MTN, Mwami's alleged offences were committed between June and December 2011 at the operator's offices in Kampala. His lawyers, David Mpanga and Macdosman Kabega, presented three sureties - including Sam Mutambo, a surgeon at Case clinic; and Robert Kisubi and Joseph Bagabo, head of human resources at Barclays Bank Uganda and head of the cricket fraternity, respectively.

This follows about a month after tax evasion charges that were hanging over 13 other MTN Uganda executives, including CEO and president Sifiso Dabengwa, were cleared by the country's director of public prosecutions. The decision was based on a lack of evidence.

Mwami's case has been adjourned for mention on 29 April.

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