MPs Mutembuli, Akamba, Namujju Granted Bail

MPs Cissy Namujju, Yusuf Mutembuli, and Paul Akamba have been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Court.

Hon. Mutembuli and Akamba represent Bunyole East and Busiki County, respectively, whereas Namujju is the Lwengo District Women Representative. The three MPs leave Luzira Prison after 55 days on remand on a corruption charge.

Judge Lawrence Gidudu ruled that despite the gravity of the offense, the three MPs were eligible for bail. He noted that their case for bail was helped by the fact that they didn’t receive the alleged kickback.

“UHRC did not concede to the scheme. The budget of UHRC was not increased. The 20% [kickback] was therefore not paid. In short, the scheme failed. There’s no property to recover since none was stolen.” Gidudu.

They were granted a cash bail of shs 50 million and asked to deposit their passports with the court. Similarly, on top of being bonded shs 100 million, their sureties were tasked to ensure the suspects appear before court for hearings.

Before ruling on bail, Judge Lawrence Gidudu dismissed a recording that reportedly pins the three MPs to corruption. On Friday, while appearing before court, Uganda Human Rights Commission Chairperson Mariam Wangadya accused the three MPs of soliciting a bribe from her. According to Wangadya, she was introduced to Hon. Mutembuli by another MP, Fox Odoi, in an attempt to raise her Commission’s budget.

Following this meeting, Mutembuli invited her to another meeting at Hotel Africana. At Africana, Mutembuli was joined by MPs Akamba and Namujju. It was in this meeting that Wangadya says the MPs asked her for 20% of the Commission’s proposed budget.

“We have not reached the stage of putting a CD or flash stick in a computer to play sound. This is because we do not have it on record.” Judge Lawrence Gidudu said.

However, it is uncertain what will happen to Paul Akamba regarding another charge related to corruption. Judge Gidudu said he would have this case ruled on by the end of October.