Kampala — The Trade and Industry Minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, yesterday denied delegating three men who allegedly obtained goods worth Shs25 million from a city shopping mall on his behalf. "I do not know any of those people in the dock.

I have never dealt with anybody on things concerning hotel business because I don't have a hotel or even a kiosk in Mbarara and anywhere in the world," Gen. Otafiire told Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court.

Testifying before Chief Magistrate Deo Ssejjemba, Gen. Otafiire also denied signing the cheques allegedly issued by the suspects, saying: "I have an account with Stanbic Bank but at IPS Branch not at the City Branch but also I have taken three years without depositing money on it. The signatures used belong to someone else."

The trio, Mr Sam Wampande, Mr Stephen Byamukama both businessmen and Mr Moses Kasagga, a broker, are accused of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining goods by false pretence. They however deny the charges.

The State prosecutor, Ms Jackie Kyasimiire, argued that the group with intent to defraud obtained six refrigerators, eight coloured televisions, two cookers, 10 electric kettles, a washing machine among others, all valued at Shs25, 177, 600 from Nakumatt Supermarket by falsely pretending that they were buying the goods for Gen. Otafiire's hotel in Mbarara. The hotel does not exist.

The Police Investigating officer, Mr Alex Odong, told court that the suspects were arrested after a search was mounted using the telephone numbers they used to call the shopping mall Managing Director, Mr Bernard Mutua.