Trouble for Basajjabalaba & His Brother Muzamiru as DPP Orders His Trial Over Tax Evasion

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has ordered the resumption of trial for city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba and his brother Muzamiro over charges of evasion of taxes to the tune of Shs20bn.

In November 2021, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition by Hassan and Muzamiru Basajjabalaba who were challenging orders issued by the Constitutional Court for their trial on charges of forgery of a judicial document, uttering a false document and conspiring to evade taxes.

Later, city lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde of Legal Brains Trust (LBT) wrote to DPP Abodo complaining about delays in the resumption of the businessmen.

“We understand that in the above matter which was decided on November 19, 2021, the Supreme Court cleared the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to continue with the prosecution of the petitioners in criminal case number 3/2018 at the Kololo-based Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court,” Ssemakadde wrote to the DPP.

“We are concerned by the conspicuous silence of your esteemed office since then. Why haven’t you taken out criminal summons against the suspects to commence and conclude this very important trial?”

In a December 09 letter responding to Ssemakadde’s petition, Abodo ordered the head of the anti-corruption unit to handle the matter with the urgency it deserves.

“Please handle the complaint accordingly and give feedback to the complainant and also keep me updated on your decision,” wrote the DPP.

“By copy of this letter, the complainant is advised to make a follow up with your office on this matter.”