By Mukembo Wilfred
Renowned Human Rights Lawyer also Executive Director of Chapter Four Uganda Nicholas Opiyo has penned down an emotional message eulogizing the deceased lawyer Bob Kasango who died in prison.
” Farewell to Bob Kasango
You did not have to die in those circumstances, but yet you did. When you pleaded with the court severally that you were in ill health, the prosecutors and judicial officers took it as an attempt to delay your trial. They did not believe you.
When you applied to be granted temporary freedom to attend to your deteriorating health condition, they did not believe you. There is no worse indictment to the vindictive nature of the criminal justice system/process that you have died of the same condition you pleaded with them about.
Like us all, you had your human flaws. Many people have and continue to judge you on those the basis of those flaws. For me, I elect to celebrate your erudite contribution knowledge of the law.
We had many in-person encounters; the last was at a coffee shop, before your incarceration, to discuss a prospective suit against the abuse of power by the Directorate of Public Prosecution. We never got to file the case for one reason or the other. But every moment with you was a moment of deep reflection and learning.
I will miss you, Bob Kasango. Farewell, thee, until we meet again.” Wrote Nicholas Opiyo on his official face book account.
According to the Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine Bob Kasango died on Saturday as he was being transported from Murchison Bay prison to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further treatment for heart-related diseases.
In 2018, Kasango was found guilty of theft of 15.4 Billion Shillings pension funds.
The Anti-Corruption Court Judge Margaret Tibulya convicted Kasango alongside three senior officials in the ministry of public service for their various roles played in the pension scam.
They are Jimmy Lwamafa the former Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Public Service, former Principal Accountant in the pensions department Christopher Obey, former Director Research and Development Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa.
They were found guilty for conspiring to forge a court order, a certificate of taxation and a certificate of costs directing the Attorney General to pay Kasango’s defunct law firm Hall and Partners 15.4 billion shillings which was meant for pension and gratuity of more than 6,340 pensioners between 2011 and 2012.
Kasango the prime suspect was given 16 years but by the time of his death, he had appealed against the sentence and a panel of three Justices of the Court of Appeal namely Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, Muzamir Mutangula Kibeedi and Remmy Kasule were yet to determine the matter.
