Muyanga Lutaaya Released, Outstanding Debt Falls to Shs 37M

The Jinja High Court has Friday afternoon released NBS TV journalist, Simon Muyanga Lutaaya from Kirinya prison where he had been since Monday April 30.

Muyanga was arrested for failing to pay court costs amounting to Shs 51 million after losing an election petition in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. In the petition, Lutaaya had challenged the victory of NRM’s Kenneth Lubogo in the Bulamogi county Parliamentary elections in 2016.

According to Asuman Kiyingi, the Chairperson of the Committee which was established to solicit funds to have Muyanga released, he was released on an understanding that he pays the remaining amount of money in the next six months.

“The terms of his release are simple, because the two parties have agreed that Mr Muyanga pays the outstanding costs of Shs 37m in six months and this has been endorsed by Court,” Kiyingi told SoftPower News.

Drama ensued in court earlier on Friday when the two lawyers; Kamba Hassan who was earlier disowned by Hon Lubogo Kenneth, and Counsel Nyerecho one of Lubogo’s new lawyers from Acardia Advocates claimed to be the right representatives of the judgement creditor Lubogo Kenneth.

Kamba argued before Justice Evelyn Luswata that he has never received any payment from Mr Lubogo as he claims and challenged him to present documents to the effect. On the contrary, Nyerecho submitted that his client, Lubogo paid Kamba and removed instructions in this case from him.

But Muyanga’s side led by city lawyer Elias Lukwago told court that he (Muyanga) is not opposed to the payments and he has been assenting to it until his arrest. This prompted Justice Luswata to adjourn court giving way for negotiations.

It has also emerged that there was an understanding between the two parties sometime back to reduce the cost from the reported Shs 57 million to Shs 47 million and thereafter, Muyanga paid Shs 6 million to lawyer Kamba reducing the remaining cost to Shs 41 million.

Following Friday’s negotiations, Muyanga made an additional Shs 4 million to laywer Kamba and is now owed Shs 37 million which he has to pay in the a period of six months. This payment is also subject to change based on the agreement of the two parties.

Meanwhile, Mr Kiyingi says Muyanga’s supporters are continuing to fundraise for him to clear the amount of money remaining.