Three Members of Parliament have been arraigned in court on charges of conspiracy to defraud and diversion of public resources. They are Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Busiki County MP Paul Akamba.
They were charged alongside alongside lawyer Julius Kirya.
According to the charges sanctioned by the Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo, Mawanda, Wamakuyu, Akamba, Kirya, and Kavundira, conspired to defraud 7.3 billion shillings that was meant for compensation of Buyaka Growers Cooperatives Society Limited.
The offences were allegedly committed between 2019 and 2023.
Prosecution alleges that in October 2021, Mawanda diverted public funds amounting to 1.5 billion shillings for purposes unrelated to that for which the resources were intended, while Wanakuyu and Akamba diverted 2.3 Billion Shillings and 200 million shillings respectively for their benefit.
Kirya allegedly diverted 2.2 billion shillings. The suspects also conspired to defraud 3.4 billion shillings meant for the Buyaka Cooperative Society.
Hundreds of Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) supporters led by PLU Secretary General David Kabanda, the Kasambya County Member of Parliament, have camped at the court premises donning t-shirts with the image of Mawanda and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Mawanda is PLU’s Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee PLU.
There heavy deployment of security personnel in and outside the court premises.
However, people wearing t-shirts are not allowed to enter the court premises.
Earlier in the morning, the Anti-corruption Court Chief Magistrate, Joan Aciro heard that Akamba, who was rearrested last week will be arraigned in court this afternoon on other charges of corruption.
This followed a revelation by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya who had appeared before Aciro to have Akamba committed to the High Court to stand trial for soliciting a 20% kickback to increase the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) budget.
Muwaganya told the court that Akamba could not attend the proceedings because he is still held by Police on other unrelated charges and therefore his committal should wait until 2 pm when he is expected to appear for plea-taking.
His sureties including Namutumba District Woman MP, Mariam Naigaga, and Henry Kibalya turned up at court.
Akamba is co-jointly charged with MPs Cissy Namujju and Yusuf Mutembuli who are on remand in Luzira Prison on corruption charges and await to apply for bail in the High Court.
