The 11.8 BILLION UNRA SCANDAL: Corruption and Fraud Exposed.

TV10 Investigative  Special Report  

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How Alex Mkomazi Empire and Luna’s Enterprises Scandal Was Built on Deceit

Episode One

As 2024 comes to a close, TV10’s investigative desk is reflecting on the year’s most shocking scandals. Meanwhile, we’re gearing up for 2025 with a series of in-depth reports on the 11.8 billion UNRA scandal.

This explosive story exposes the deceitful dealings of Alex Mukomazi and his Lunas Enterprises empire.

Corruption has become a widespread problem in Uganda in recent years. A notable example is the scandal involving Alex Mukomazi Lutaaya, director and primary beneficiary of Lunas Enterprises Ltd. This case revolves around a fraudulent contract with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), exposing a disturbing pattern of dishonesty with significant consequences for the country’s infrastructure and economy.

The prevalence of corruption in Uganda has severe implications, including the erosion of trust in government, poor infrastructure, delayed project implementation, and low investments. Furthermore, corruption hinders effective service delivery and national development, as highlighted in the Zero-Tolerance to Corruption Policy launched by Uganda in 2019.

The impact of corruption on Uganda’s development is multifaceted. It affects public finances, service delivery, and economic growth, ultimately undermining the country’s progress. As the Inspectorate of Government emphasizes, combating corruption requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.

A few years ago, Lunas Enterprises successfully bid on a lucrative contract with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to supply guardrails and related accessories, essential for maintaining road safety. Nevertheless, allegations have surfaced that the company neglected to meet its contractual responsibilities.

Alex Mukomazi Lutaaya, the director of Lunas Enterprises Ltd, and his associates were found to have falsely claimed delivery of goods, resulting in a massive financial loss of over 11.8 billion shillings to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). This incident led to Lutaaya being taken to the anti-corruption court, with the case number AC-CO-007/2022.

Investigations led to charges being brought against several individuals, including:

1. Alex Mukomazi Lutaaya, Director of Lunas Enterprises Ltd.

2. Richard Ssekungu, General Manager of Lunas Enterprises Ltd.

3. Gilbert Kibuuka, Engineer at UNRA.

4. John Mibidde, Supply Officer at UNRA.

The investigations revealed that John Mbidde had issued delivery notes for the supply of guardrails and related accessories, despite no actual delivery being made. Furthermore, Gilbert Kibuuka, while serving as a Roads Maintenance Officer at UNRA, signed notices falsely confirming that Lunas Enterprises Ltd had supplied the required materials.

Richard Ssenkungu, the former General Manager of Lunas Enterprises Ltd, is embroiled in a controversy surrounding a contract for guard rails and related accessories. In November 2019, Ssenkungu made requisitions for these materials, but only partial delivery was made, resulting in a significant loss.

The case was registered in the Magistrate Anti-Corruption Court on January 19, 2022, under Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro. However, the proceedings have been marred by multiple adjournments, with defense lawyers frequently failing to appear in court. Additionally, Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro has also been absent from several hearings, leading to concerns about the efficiency of the judicial process. The lack of consistent proceedings over the past two years has only exacerbated these concerns.

Here’s an update on the corruption case involving Lunas Enterprises and UNRA staff. On May 3, 2024, the suspects were committed to the High Court Anti-Corruption due to multiple adjournments and mismanagement of the case.

The case hearing commenced on July 3, 2024, at 10:00 am, with case number AC-SC-0003/2024 under Justice Lawrence Gidudu. Alex Mukomazi Lutaaya, director of Lunas Enterprises, and General Manager Richard Ssenkungu, along with UNRA staff Engineer Gilbert Kibuuka and Supply Officer John Mbidde, were charged afresh.

Last court hearing was held on November 13, 2024 before Justice Gidudu Lawrence. It was stated that since the president of Uganda mentioned to dissolve UNRA . UNRA should first decide who is going to handle the case in court and prosecute the matter before they proceed to hearing the matter. So the matter was adjourned to January 29 2025.

============= To be Continued ==========