The Anti-Corruption Court has convicted Fredrick Edward Lubinga, an Architectural Assistant and Chairperson of the Evaluation Committee at the Ministry of Education, for soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for influencing the awarding of school construction contracts.
Justice Okuo Jane Kajuga sentenced Lubinga to one year in prison, fined him 4 million Shillings, and barred him from holding public office for 10 years.
“The convict has been found guilty of the 2 offences of corrupt solicitation and corrupt acceptance of a gratification 48(2a) of the Anti-Corruption Act,” Justice Kajuga noted before sentencing the official.
She added that “The value of the subject matter in count II is Uganda shillings 50,000,0001=, though the acceptance in Count III is of Uganda Shillings 25,000,000/=.
These offences were committed by the accused who not only was employed as a civil servant but was the Chairperson of the evaluation committee.”
The judge noted that she had considered several factors, including the method used to commit the offense (demanding a bribe), the abuse of office for personal gain, and the resulting prejudice to both the complainant and the employer.
“I consider a sentence of both fine and imprisonment suitable in the circumstances.,” the sentencing statement reads in part.
According to court records, between August 2019 and March 2020, Lubinga solicited 50 million shillings and later accepted 25 million shillings from Synergy Enterprises Ltd, a company that had submitted bids for construction projects at Nyamitanga Technical Institute and Kaleera Technical Institute.
In 2021, Lubinga was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
He was charged alongside three other officials: Doreen Matovu Lwanga (Civil Engineer and Acting Head of the Construction Management Unit), Hajji Abdul Nsubuga (Project Management Professional), and Solomon Kaigia (Quantity Surveyor and Project Coordinator).
During the trial, Robert Nsimbe Zizinga, the director of Synergy Enterprises Ltd, testified that shortly after the bid opening, Lubinga reached out to him requesting a meeting.
At this meeting, Lubinga allegedly demanded a 10% kickback from the contract sum, promising that he and his colleagues at the ministry would guarantee that the contractor would win the bid.
In January 2020, Lubinga intensified his demands, calling the contractor and stating that he needed to “calm people.”
He allegedly warned that “things could even change” if the money was not paid. Feeling pressured, the contractor paid 25 million shillings in two installments—one at Haandi Restaurant and another at Golden Tulip Restaurant.
Shortly after, Synergy Enterprises Ltd was awarded the contract for Nyamitanga Technical Institute.
However, Lubinga continued demanding the remaining kickback, prompting the contractor to report the matter to the police.
As evidence, he submitted audio recordings and WhatsApp messages documenting their conversations.
The prosecution presented forensic phone records, WhatsApp chats, and an audio recording as key evidence.
Extracts from the contractor’s phone revealed coded discussions about the bribe, with the kickback being referred to as “omutemwa.”
One of the audio recordings presented in court captured Lubinga acknowledging receipt of 25 million and confirming that the contractor still owed him 50 million shillings.
Lubinga attempted to defend himself by claiming the money was a security payment rather than a bribe, but the court dismissed his argument as an afterthought with no legal basis.
Justice Kajuga ruled that Lubinga had abused his authority as an evaluator by demanding bribes in exchange for recommending the contractor for the project.
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