The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) is grilling the Chairperson of the Budget Committee of Parliament, Patrick Isiagi.
The Kachumbala County MP is allegedly grilled over the reallocation of Shs750 billion to another vote in the 2024–2025 financial year budget.
The development comes at a time when five legislators three of whom are from the budget committee, are in prison for their involvement in corrupt-related tendencies.
Earlier this month, the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro charged and remanded Lwengo district woman MP Cissy Namujju, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, and Bunyole East county MP Yusuf Mutembuli to Luzira prison over corruption and influence peddling.
The prosecution averred that while at Hotel African on May 13, 2024, the three solicited a bribe from the executive director of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, to enhance the commission’s 2024/25 budget. The group would take 20% of the enhanced budget.
Akamba was, however, again charged alongside Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu and Igara East MP Michael Mawanda.
Prosecution avers that between 2019 and 2023, Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu, Leonard Kavundira, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade, Mawanda, Akamba, and Julius Kirya Taitankoko conspired to defraud Shs7.3 billion budgeted for compensation of Buyaka Growers Cooperatives Society Limited.
The prosecution alleges that Mawanda, in October 2021, in Kampala, diverted public funds amounting to Shs1,050,000 to unrelated purposes. Akamba and Wanakuyu allegedly diverted Shs2.3 billion and Shs200 million for their benefit. Kirya allegedly diverted Shs2.2 billion.
The suspects also conspired to defraud Shs3.4 billion meant for the Buyaka Cooperative Society.
Mawanda and Bulambuli Constituency MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi were summoned last week to appear before Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) detectives and record statements over their involvement in the corruption scandal.
