The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) president Vincent Nzamwita has been cleared of any corruption and nepotism charges linked to the tender for the construction of the planned 88-room FERWAFA Hotel.
Initially, the prosecution had requested the Nyarugunga Primary Court to give a three-year sentence and a fine of Rwf3 million to Ferwafa president Nzamwita, secretary-general Olivier Mulindahabi and a consultant, Eng. Adolphe Muhirwa over alleged malpractices linked to the tender for the construction of the planned hotel.
But the trio denied the charges and asked court to clear them arguing the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence.
On Friday afternoon, the Kicukiro District-based Nyarugunga Primary Court acquitted Ferwafa president Nzamwita on grounds that the prosecution had failed to provide enough evidence to convict him on both corruption and nepotism charges.
However, secretary general, Olivier Mulindahabi and the consultant Engineer Adolphe Muhirwa were each handed a six-month jail term for mishandling the project that was in the interest of the general public.
Mulindahabi and Eng. Muhirwa have been in custody since February on grounds that they awarded the tender based on favouritism, flouted procedures and had been involved in corruption. Their six-month jail term will expire on August 8, 2016.
The Expert Company Managing Director Protais Sebatabazi who was contracted to undertake the construction of the mega hotel was sentenced to six years in prison over forged documents which he presented in winning the construction tender.
The Construction of the Rwf4 billion-hotel with capacity to host three national teams is being partly funded by FIFA and loans from domestic banks.
Construction work started at the site located in Rukiri II, Remera sector shortly before the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which kicked off in Mid-January in Rwanda.
The construction works were divided into four phases, and the first phase was expected to end in April 2016 with completion of 40 rooms.
This project was set to cut down on the accommodation costs incurred by the Ministry of Sports and Culture (Minispoc) on Rwanda national teams as well as visiting national teams and it would also be open to the public as a means of income.
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