Ex-ORINFOR boss handed two years

The Nyarugenge Intermediate Court yesterday sentenced former ORINFOR boss, Oscar Kimanuka, to two years in prison over mismanagement of state resources. ORINFOR is the National Information Office, an institution that oversees all state media outlets. Kimanuka, had been charged with corruption, flouting tendering procedures and favoritism. He was acquitted of corruption but found guilty of flouting tendering procedures and favoritism for which court also ordered him to pay Rwf5 million. “Court has sentenced Oscar Kimanuka to two years of imprisonment as he was found guilty of flouting tendering procedures when favoured one, Joshua Mugyenzi, by awarding him a tender without bidding,” ruled Judge Ruth Mukankusi who presided over the case. “By doing this, Kimanuka caused loss to the government because there was a likelihood of getting much cheaper services if there had been proper tendering procedures.” Mukankusi acquitted Kimanuka of corruption saying that he had paid the money to install the web machine which had already been procured and did not divert the money for his own benefit. The other people who had been jointly accused with Kimanuka were acquitted and these include the former ORINFOR Marketing Manager, Alexandre Twahirwa.The Judge also said that Kimanuka had 30 days to appeal to the court’s decision. Speaking to The New Times shortly after the ruling, one of Kimanuka’s defence lawyers, Eugene Twagira, said that they were happy that their client had been washed off the corruption charge. “We are happy about the corruption charge, but we are going to appeal against the other two charges on which he has been convicted,” said Twagira. The appellate court for this case will be the High Court.Kimanuka was first arrested in April last year over the charges but court granted him bail over what the presiding judge said was lack of incriminating evidence. Ends