NEWS– The Anti-Corruption Court sitting in Kampala has once again turned down the bail application for three members of Parliament; Paul Akamba, Micheal Mawanda and Wamakuyu Mudimi, who have been on remand over cases of alleged corruption.
The trio had today appeared before Chief Magistrate Her Worship Jane Aciro for consideration of their bail applications following their arrest on charges of diversion of public resources.
The three legislators are accused of conspiracy to defraud government more than Ugx 7.3 billion for Buyaka Growers Cooperatives Society Limited.
Elgon County Member of Parliament Hon Wamakuyu Mudimi had presented three sureties who included Northern Division MP Hon Sezi Wambedde, Wedulo Gracious and his sister Kasey Beatrice, Igara East MP Micheal Mawanda had also resented Hon David Agha Isabirye, businessman Basajjabalaba and Barungi Titus.
However, the State Attorney, Adrine Atusingwire, asked for two weeks to verify the bail application and the presiding magistrate sent the three MPs back to Luzira prison as the state continues verifying their bail application.
Meanwhile the former Rubaga Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Herbert Anderson Burora has appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court for his bail hearing.
Burora was charged with hate speech and malicious information under the Computer Misuse Act and was subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison until today July 9th, 2024 and if convicted, the offence carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding Ugx 15 million or imprisonment for up to seven years or both.
The court was informed that between March and June 2024, in the Kampala district or nearby areas, Burora, using social media shared information that was likely to ridicule, degrade, demean, and promote hostility against the Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Anita Among.
The Prosecution, led by State Attorneys Richard Birivumbuka, Joan Keko and Ivan Kyazze, informed the court that investigations were still ongoing, but Burora’s Legal team that consisted of seven lawyers, asked the court to dismiss the charges against their client, arguing that the charge sheet was defective.
Lawyers Phillip Munaabi, David Kamukama, and Benjamin Katana contended that the charge sheet did not specify what Burora had said to constitute hate speech, nor did it indicate anything malicious and they cited the case of Dr Stella Nyanzi, in which the prosecutors specified vulgar words used, which is not the case with Burora’s charge sheet.
Munaabi requested the court to release Burora until a proper charge sheet could be drafted by the prosecution, however, Birivumbuka asked the court for an adjournment to respond to the defense’s submissions.
The defence lawyers suggested that if prosecutor Birivumbuka is unavailable next week, his colleague Ivan Kyazze, who is regularly at Buganda Road Court, should handle the matter instead of remanding Burora for an extended period, however, Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi ruled that the legality of the charge sheet must first be resolved before proceeding with the case.
