The Anti-corruption court has barred Former junior state minister for Labour Herbert Kabafunzaki from holding public office for a period of 10 years after being convicted of corruption charges.
Former minister was convicted by Justice Margret Tibulya who also asked him to pay a fine of Shs10 Million or to serve three years in prison.
Kabafunzaki, who is also the former MP for Rukiga County 2016-2021 current Rukiga District has been charged with two counts of corruption contrary to section 2 (a) and 26 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 and one count of conspiracy contrary to section 390 of the penal code Act.
In April 8, 2017the former minister was arrested and jointly charged with two others, who include Mr Brian Mugabo, his political assistant, and Mr Bruce Lubowa, an interior designer in Wakiso District however during the course of the trial, Kabafunzaki reportedly went missing.
The presiding judge by then pushed his wife, Ms Doreen Kabafunzaki, to produce him in court, saying she did not believe that she did not know the whereabouts of her husband.
According to Justice, Tibulya Ms Doreen Kabafunzaki did not report a matter for a missing person to the police station.
The court accuses Kabafunzaki while performing his duties as minister at Kampala Serena Hotel, on 8th April 2017 for soliciting Shs15m from Mr Hamid as a gratification for clearing his name from allegations of sexual harassment.
The state also, alleges that on the same day, the minister directly accepted Shs5m as a gratification from Hamid.
The State also said that between April 6 and 8, 2017, Mr Kabafunzaki conspired with Mr Lubowa to solicit a gratification of Shs15m from Hamid who separately also faces a single charge of being an accessory after fact in the third count of conspiracy.
It should be noted that in 2017, President Museveni ordered Kabafunzaki to step aside pending trial on corruption related charges just hours after resuming his ministerial duties.
Where he took his money