The Anti-Corruption Court freed Igara East MP Michael Mawanda and Busiki County MP Paul Akamba on bail with stringent terms, providing them with a reprieve from their ongoing legal issues.
A substantial cash bail of Shs35 million was imposed on each accused, and their sureties were also required to post non-cash bonds totaling Shs50 million. The politicians are compelled to turn in their passports and check in at the court registry every two weeks, and the court has also been closely monitoring their whereabouts. Their bail might be withdrawn for any mistake—including tampering with witnesses or investigations—faster than you can say “courtroom drama.”
There is nothing more intriguing about the bail’s timing. It occurred precisely two weeks after MP Mawanda’s detention was called a politically driven witch hunt by Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, drawing attention to the matter. Never one to back down from controversy, Gen. Muhoozi resorted to social media to accuse Mawanda of being targeted by the government because Mawanda backed Muhoozi in Bushenyi. He wrote, “My friend Michael Mawanda is in prison while people who have stolen for decades remain ministers?” Mawanda’s real offense, he said, was supporting him.
Paul Akamba, on the other hand, is finally able to relax after going through the ordeal of being re-arrested outside of court in June, just after receiving his first bail. The court’s choice to grant bail has been described as a delicate balancing act that upholds constitutional rights without sacrificing the need for justice.
In this case, cooperative war loss compensation is linked to a massive corruption scam worth Shs7 billion. Attorney Julius Kirya Taitankoko is also in the dock with Mawanda and Akamba, who are accused of his financial misdeeds. The November start of the corruption trial promises more turns and turns.
Judge Jane Kajuga, who had previously recommended a plea deal, allowed the accused to continue their trial from the comfort of their homes, which has given their embattled supporters some optimism.
