MPs Namujju, Mutembuli denied bail, further remanded
MPs Yusuf Mutembuli of Bunyole East (L), Paul Akamba of Busiki County (C) and District Woman MP for Lwengo, Cissy Namujju Dionizia (R) appear before the Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro at the Anti-Corruption court in Kampala to answer corruption allegations on June 12, 2024. PHOTO/ISAAC KASAMANI
What you need to know:
- Ms Aciro specifically cited Section 77 of the Magistrates Court Act, which requires an LC letter as proof of residence for bail applications.
Two legislators, Ms Cissy Namujju Dionizia (Lwengo District Woman Representative) and Mr Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East County MP), will spend the weekend in Luzira prison after being denied bail on Friday. The Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate, Ms Joan Aciro, denied their bail requests due to missing documentation.
Ms Aciro specifically cited Section 77 of the Magistrates Court Act, which requires an LC letter as proof of residence for bail applications. Ms Namujju Dionizia lacked this document, and Mr Mutembuli had only one suitable surety after the other failed to present a certified employment letter.
“Section 77 of the Magistrates Court Act states if an application or bail is made, court should make a consideration whether the applicant has a fixed place of abode and an application for bail should be accompanied by an LC letter a requirement A3 (Namujju) has failed to meet and also a one Robert Kasolo a surety for A2 (Mutembuli) did not meet,” Ms Aciro ruled.
The duo has been remanded until June 17 to present the required documents.
Court also granted cash bail of Shs13 million Mr Paul Akamba (Busiki County MP) after court finding his sureties substantial. He has also been ordered to deposit his passport with court while his sureties have been bonded a non-cash bond of Shs100m.
Court has heard that investigations in the matter are complete.
The prosecution alleges that the three legislators solicited a bribe of 20 percent from Ms Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission (UHRC), on May 13, 2024 at Hotel Africana. They allegedly claimed they could influence the Parliamentary Budget Committee to increase the UHRC's budget for the financial year 2024/2025 in exchange for the bribe.
