Lwengo District Woman MP, Cissy Namujju and Bunyole East County MP Yusuf Mutembuli, have been denied bail for lack of substantial sureties. Meanwhile, court released their counterpart, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba.
The three were nabbed on Monday after they had been summoned to record statements about corruption-related allegations. The group was quizzed and later detained at Kira Police Divisional Headquarters, where they spent two nights.
They were later arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro and charged with corruption and influence peddling.
The prosecution alleges that while at Hotel African on May 13, 2024, the three solicited a bribe from Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, to enhance the commission’s 2024/25 budget. The group would take 20% of the enhanced budget.
The trio has pleaded not guilty and subsequently remanded until June 14, 2024. Through their lawyers, led by Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, the three applied for bail.
Appearing before court earlier today, Namujju and Mutembuli were denied bail, while Akamba was granted Shs13 million cash bail and his sureties were bonded for Shs200 million in non-cash bail each. The two were further remanded to Luzira prison until June 17, 2024.
Their arrest followed President Yoweri Museveni’s remarks revealing that there is a racket of people in the ministry of finance and parliament taking bribes to approve the budgets of various government agencies.
“I have been getting good information about corrupt actors not only among public servants but also among political actors. With some evidence, we shall crush these traitors.” Museveni said.
“I have been hearing, but now I have proof. I have been hearing from the Ministry of Finance; they arrange for accounting officers of ministries to come to parliament. Working with some people there to provide certain funds, provided you take a share, I didn’t believe it, but now I have proof,” Museveni said.
