In a dramatic turn of events, three Members of Parliament in Uganda were escorted under heavy police guard to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala. Cissy Namujju, Yusuf Mutembuli, and Paul Akamba, representing Lwengo, Bunyole, and Busiki County respectively, faced serious corruption charges.
The MPs are accused of collaborating with Ministry of Finance officials to solicit bribes from accounting officers in exchange for approving government budgets. Specifically, they allegedly solicited kickbacks from the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s budget for the fiscal year 2024/25, promising to influence its increase.
Despite the severity of the charges, all three MPs pled not guilty as the legal proceedings began. Following their arrests, authorities conducted thorough searches of their residences, uncovering potential evidence to support the case.
President Museveni commented on the situation, acknowledging the widespread corruption within the government and reaffirming his commitment to eradicating it.
Further investigations revealed disturbing patterns of alleged corruption among the accused MPs. One MP is implicated in dubious dealings with individuals from Kenya during legislative processes, while another is accused of amassing substantial wealth through illicit means, including the purchase of luxury vehicles and planning extravagant property acquisitions.
This case underscores the urgent need to address corruption within Uganda’s government and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who abuse their positions of power for personal gain.