The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has urged the Anti-Corruption Court to deny bail to three Members of Parliament accused of corruption.

The MPs in question are Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), Paul Akamba (Busiki), and Cissy Namujju Dionizia (Lwengo Woman).

On Friday, the MPs, represented by lawyers Caleb Alaka, Evans Ochieng, Mwesigwa Rukutana, Brian Rubaihayo, and Edgar Ayebazibwe, submitted their bail applications following the testimony of Uganda Human Rights Commission Chairperson Mariam Wangandya.

The hearing was overseen by Judge Lawrence Gidudu, who asked the defence to present sureties and brief backgrounds.

Mutembuli listed Geoffrey Mutibwa, Steven Baka Mugabi, Florence Nebanda, and his sister Namukose Minsa as his sureties. Namujju’s sureties included Alex Brandon Kintu, Ssemwanga Gyavira, Kamugo Pamela Nasiyo, and Ssentayi Muhammad. Akamba’s lawyer requested the reinstatement of his previous bail granted by the Chief Magistrate’s Court, which was countered by Judge Gidudu, noting that the issue was beyond his jurisdiction. Akamba presented MPs Mariam Naigaga and Maurice Kibarya as his sureties.

The MPs have been on remand for 52 days in Luzira Prison. Their lawyers argued for reasonable bail terms, suggesting at least 2 million shillings. However, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya opposed the bail, arguing that the sureties were not substantial and that the MPs had not provided exceptional circumstances for their release.

Muwaganya highlighted that the Bail Guidelines of 2022 should be considered, noting the nature and severity of the offence, the fixed residence of the applicants, and the credibility of the sureties. He pointed out that Namujju’s medical letters were from Turkey and not certified by prison medical officers, while Mutembuli’s medical documents were from a private hospital and also uncertified.

The prosecutor also questioned the financial credibility of the sureties, emphasizing that being an MP does not automatically ensure financial stability. He argued that the trial should proceed without granting bail to avoid delays.

Judge Gidudu announced that the ruling on whether to admit recorded audios by Wangandya would be delivered on August 5, 2024, along with the decision on the bail applications for the three MPs. The trial is set to resume on August 8 and 9, 2024, with the judge urging all parties to cooperate to conclude the case within two weeks.

The MPs are accused of soliciting a bribe from UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangandya on May 13, 2024, at Hotel Africana in Kampala. They allegedly demanded 20% of the UHRC’s anticipated budget for the financial year 2024/2025, promising to influence the parliamentary budget committee to increase the UHRC budget in return.