MPs Cissy Namujju, Yusuf Mutembuli, and Paul Akamba have been remanded to prison until 14th June. Hon. Mutembuli and Akamba represent Bunyole East and Busiki County, respectively, whereas Namujju is the Lwengo District Women Representative.
They were charged with corruption before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala this afternoon.
According to the charge sheet, the MPs allegedly solicited from Ms. Mariam Wangadya, the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, a cut from the entity’s budget on May 13, 2024.
Under this understanding, the MPs would pocket 20% of an enhanced Human Rights Commission budget.
The MPs, alongside other Parliamentary staffers, have been under police custody since Monday, 10th June 2024.
This occurred after they responded to summons to the Police’s Criminal Investigations Directorate headquarters in Kibuli. After a day of grueling interactions with the cops in Kibuli, the MPs were retired to Kira Road Police Station.
On Tuesday, Police conducted searches at their respective residences in the Kampala Metropolitan area.
History
During the State of the Nation Address on Thursday last week, President Yoweri Museveni sent out a warning to government officials involved in the misuse of government funds.
During the same address, the President suggested amnesty to all officials implicated but was heckled by calls for iron-fist action. He also confirmed that he had evidence linking legislators and a number of Parliamentary staff to corruption racketeering at the August House.
According to the President, the MPs were racketeering alongside officials from the Finance Ministry.
Less than four days after the President’s address to the nation, the media was awash with reports of a number of legislators and Parliamentary staff summoned to the Criminal Investigations Directoate (CID) of Police.
Despite the heavy deployment at the CID headquarters in Kibuli, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga watered down the media reports.
Parliament has also been tight-lipped on the developments.
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