The Anti-Corruption Court has released the embattled Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, and lawyer Julius Kirya.
The three and Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu are accused of diversion of funds and conspiracy to defraud Shs164 billion meant for compensating cooperative societies. In June, the three applied to be released on bail.
Appearing before Justice Jane Kajuga, the three were granted Shs35 million cash bail each and Shs50 million non-cash for the sureties, together with other restrictions. She ordered them to surrender their passports to court every two weeks.
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 Kirya 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.
Last year, the state minister for trade, Harriet Ntababazi, revealed that up to 30 legislators are facing criminal investigation over their alleged role in the embezzlement of Shs164 billion meant for compensation to cooperative societies.
According to the report that parliament sent to CID and the Inspectorate of Government for further investigations, there were only two MPs supposed to be quizzed. They are Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu and Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, while former Kyankwanzi District Woman MP Anne Maria Nankabirwa is also a target.
In 2011/2012, the Ugandan government allocated Shs164 billion to compensate cooperative societies that lost funds and property during wars between 1979 and 2006. The disbursement of funds has been marred by irregularities, with some MPs and government officials accused of conspiring to embezzle the funds.
