By Waako Tonny
The Anti-Corruption Court has approved bail for Michael Mawanda, Member of Parliament for Igara East County, Paul Akamba, MP for Busiki County, and their co-defendant, lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko. Each was required to pay a cash bail of UGX 35 million and surrender their passports to the court’s Registrar. Additionally, they were prohibited from leaving the country without prior authorization from the court.
The MPs were also required to provide sureties, including fellow legislators, family members, and associates such as prominent businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba. Each surety had to sign a non-cash bond of UGX 50 million to ensure the defendants’ appearance in court when necessary.
The three are facing charges alongside former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Geraldine Ssali, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, and Leonard Kavundira, the principal cooperative officer in the Ministry of Trade. They are accused of misappropriating UGX 7 billion allocated for compensating the Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society.
The court is set to rule on the bail requests of former PS Ssali and Kavundira later today at 2 PM.
Justice Jane Kajuga Okuo, who presided over the bail hearing, determined that all sureties presented were credible and responsible members of the community.
