Court grants MP Wamakuyu bail

KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | The Anti-corruption court in Kampala has granted Elgon County MP, Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi a cash bail of 35 million shillings on charges of diverting public resources and conspiracy to defraud the government.

On Wednesday, the  Court presided over Lady Justice JJane Okuo Kajuga granted Wamakuyu bail following his successful application made on Monday this week.

Wamakuyu has been directed not to travel anywhere beyond this Country without Court permission and also to deposit his passport with Court.

As part of the conditions, Mudimi was directed to surrender the title of his home in Nsambya.

His sureties who included his siblings and MP Seth Wambede will then execute non cash bond of 50 million shillings.

Mudimi’s co-accused were taken back to Luzira prison until Friday, August 30, when the court will rule on their bail application. They are former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, Igara East MP, Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP, and their Busiki County counterpart, Paul Akamba.

The group is jointly charged with Leonard Kavundira, the Principal Cooperative Officer in the Ministry of Trade, and City lawyer, Julius Kirya Taitankoko.

It is alleged that  Michael Mawanda, Wamakuyu Mudimi, Paul Akamba, Kirya,  Kavundira, and Geraldine Ssali conspired to defraud 3.4 billion shillings that were meant for compensation of Buyaka Growers Cooperatives Society Limited based in  Bulambuli District. The crimes were allegedly committed between 2019 and 2023.

Mudimi is the third jailed MP to regain temporary freedom on corruption charges.

Others are Cissy Namujju Dionizia the Lwengo District Woman MP and Yusuf Mutembuli who was released a few weeks ago on a separate case file regarding their alleged involvement in demanding a 20 percent bribe to exert pressure and undue influence on Parliament to pass the budget of Uganda Human Rights Commission.

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