Uganda recommends prosecution of senior public officials for alleged loss of US$7 million in controversial Belarus helicopter deal

The government has recommended that several senior public officials, including President Yoweri Museveni`s brother, be prosecuted for allegedly losing the country US$7 million in a controversial helicopter deal, an official said Thursday. In 1997 the government bought four Mi-24 helicopters from Belarus in a controversial US$12.3 million deal into which an investigation was later ordered. Minister of State for Defense Ruth Nankabirwa said the recommendation to prosecute was made after the Cabinet examined an official report on the affair when it met Tuesday. The commission which submitted its report last year found that the government had lost US$7 million in the deal; the funds had been intended for spare parts, ammunition, accessories, and payment for instructors. According to the report, the helicopters never got off the ground and no spare parts, accessories or ammunition were delivered. The commission said those who should bear responsibility for the deal include Museveni`s only surviving brother, Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh, and retired Col. Kiiza Besigye, a candidate in the 2001 presidential election. Besigye was the army`s logistics chief at the time of the deal. However, eight technicians from Belarus were paid a total of US$576,000 over two years to maintain the helicopters, the commission found.