After a week of uncertainty, the government has disclosed the whereabouts of Busiki County Member of Parliament, Mr. Paul Akamba, following his violent re-arrest from court last Friday.

Mr. Akamba had been granted bail of Shs 13 million at the Anti-Corruption Court, only to be immediately seized by plainclothes officers upon his release.

During a bail application hearing on Monday for Mr. Akamba’s co-accused, Ms Cissy Namujju Dionizia, the District Woman Representative for Lwengo, and Mr. Yusuf Mutembuli of Bunyole East County, Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro issued criminal summons for Mr. Akamba to appear today.

This followed a request by the state to transfer his case to the High Court regarding charges of allegedly soliciting a 20 percent bribe to influence the Uganda Human Rights Commission budget.

In today’s court session, it was revealed that Mr. Akamba is currently detained by police on unrelated charges. The prosecution, led by Mr. Jonathan Muwaganya, informed the court, “The suspect is not present in court. This morning, we confirmed he is detained by police for matters unrelated to this case.” Mr. Muwaganya requested a standover of the case until 2:00 PM.

Meanwhile, Ms. Namujju and Mr. Mutembuli were denied bail due to missing essential documentation. The prosecution alleges that on May 13, 2024, at Hotel Africana, the trio solicited an undue advantage from Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), equivalent to 20 percent of the anticipated budget increase for the financial year 2024/2025. They claimed to influence the Parliament Budget Committee’s decisions in exchange for the bribe.

The dramatic re-arrest and subsequent detainment of Mr. Akamba highlight the ongoing tension and legal battles surrounding corruption allegations within Uganda’s political landscape.