THE Mbarara Grade II Magistrate, Moses Ndifiuna, has been jailed for two years for receiving a sh200,000 bribe from a businessman.

Delivering his judgment yesterday at the High Court in Kampala, the head of the Anti-Corruption Court, Justice John Bosco Katusti, found Ndifuna guilty of receiving the money from Murishid Senkayi, a businessman in Mbarara.

“The accused was a serving magistrate. His actions and behaviour have brought disrespect to the noble profession, one of the oldest in history.

Greed must be punished,” Justice Katusti said. “I am told he has two wives and 17 children. Why did he do such a thing that would tempt him to supplement his wage by corrupt ways?”

The money was meant to make the magistrate lift a court order put on Senkayi’s business that had been closed by the health inspector of Kakoba division in Mbarara municipality.

Senkayi was facing charges of abetting nuisance over his premises where he operates a hotel business. The complaint was brought against him by his brother, Magidu Sentamu, with whom he shares the premises.

Following the complaint, detectives laid a trap for Ndifuna. He was arrested from his chamber after he received the money and put it in his pocket.

In his defence, Ndifuna said he received the money to settle the dispute between Senkayi and his brother. His lawyer, Robert Ntuuyo Kafuko, asked the court for leniency, saying Ndifuna had 28 dependants to look after.

But justice Katusti overruled him, saying he received a bribe. He said corruption must be condemned because it impacts massively on the economy. “You have two wives, seventeen children, and nine orphans in this day and age, what for? Did you receive this money to get a third wife” he asked, prompting.

Ndifuna’s lawyer said he would appeal the sentence, because it was unfair.
Ndifuna appeared unshaken in court despite the conviction.