Igara East County MP Michael Mawanda and Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, along with their co-accused lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko, have been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Court.
The three have been ordered to pay a cash bail of UGX 35 million each and deposit their passports with the Court’s Registrar before they can be released from prison. They have also been barred from traveling abroad without court permission.
Each of their sureties, including MPs, relatives, and friends, such as city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, have been ordered to execute a non-court bond of UGX 50 million as security to ensure their return to court whenever needed.
The trio is jointly charged with former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade Geraldine Ssali, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Midimi, and Principal Cooperative Officer in the Ministry of Trade Leonard Kavundira with theft of UGX 7 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited compensation.
The court will decide on Geraldine Ssali’s and Leonard Kavundira’s bail applications later in the afternoon. Justice Jane Kajuga Okuo noted that all sureties presented are substantial and responsible members of the community, and investigations are complete, with no fear of the accused fleeing since they have been on remand for over 60 days.
