Three Members of Parliament spent their first night behind the gates of Luzira Prison as the budget corruption probe ordered by President Museveni begins to take effect.
The MPs involved are Ms. Cissy Namujju Dionizia, 46, (Lwengo District Woman), Mr. Yusuf Mutembuli, 43, (Bunyole East), and Mr. Paul Akamba, 41, (Busiki County).
The trio, who had already spent two nights at Kira Division Police Station in Wakiso District, was brought before the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro.
Prosecution alleges that on May 13, 2024, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, the group solicited from Ms. Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), an undue advantage of 20 percent of the anticipated enhanced budget for UHRC for the Financial Year 2024/25.
The Director of Public Prosecutions further stated that the MPs aimed to exert improper influence over the Budget Committee of Parliament to increase the Commission’s budget.
All three MPs denied the corruption charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison or a fine of Shs4.8 million upon conviction.
“I have understood the charge, very untrue,” MP Mutembuli retorted in response to the charge before Chief Magistrate Aciro.
The male MPs were the first to arrive at court, transported in a dark-blue police minibus at 2:45 pm amid tight security, and were subsequently led to the court waiting cells. The female legislator, dressed in a flowered long blue dress, arrived about 15 minutes later.
Forty minutes later, the arrival of the presiding chief magistrate was signaled by a bang on a court door. Following the MPs’ denial of the charge, a host of defense lawyers argued for their bail.
“It’s our submission that the accused persons be admitted on bail on presumption of innocence,” Counsel Herbert Kidiya submitted, adding that the accused have substantial sureties, mainly fellow MPs, and have fixed places of abode.
However, State Attorney Nicholas Kawooya opposed the bail application, requesting more time to verify the bail documents, including the sureties and the accused persons’ fixed places of abode.
“In the same vein, we need to verify the particulars of the sureties and we require some time to do that,” Kawooya added. He cited Section 77 of the Magistrates Court Act, which demands that the court consider the gravity of the offense when granting bail. Kawooya argued that the corruption case against the MPs is of public interest, an argument dismissed by defense counsel Asuman Basalirwa.
“In brief rejoinder for accused one, I want to invite the court to take judicial notice that the accused is a Member of Parliament who should not in any way create any problem for the state to find,” Basalirwa argued.
Court records indicate the MPs solicited a percentage share of the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s 2024/25 budget, promising to influence its increase. The trio has pleaded not guilty.
