Fresh details have emerged about the re-arrest of Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, indicating that the legislator is wanted together with 35 colleagues to answer charges related to the embezzlement of co-operatives’ cash.
Akamba was last Friday rearrested in front of the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, Kampala by armed, masked security personnel shortly after securing bail over corruption charges. He is facing corruption charges along with Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East) and Cissy Dionozia Namujju, (Lwengo District Woman MP).
Our Sources have established that Akamba’s re-arrest is linked to a separate investigation involving the alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of cooperatives cash amounting to sh164b.
Akamba is implicated along with 35 other lawmakers, according to sources privy to the probe. However, several senior citizens and organisations, including the Uganda Law Society, condemned the manner in which Akamba was re-arrested, given the fact that he was summoned and appeared at the Criminal Investigations Directorate in Kibuli, Kampala.
The fresh charges are linked to alleged systemic irregularities in the management of funds intended for war loss compensation to co-operative unions, sources revealed.
DIVERSION OF FUNDS
A report from the parliamentary sectoral committee on tourism, trade and industry has implicated several MPs, law firms and officials from the trade ministry in the alleged diversion of co-operatives funds.
The inquiry focuses on cooperatives including Wamala Growers Cooperative Union Limited, Uganda Cooperative Transport Society Limited, West Acholi Cooperative Union Limited, Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited, Busoga Growers Cooperative, Jinja Multipurpose Cooperative Society and Bumwambu Growers Cooperative Society Limited.
Others are West Mengo Cooperative Union Limited, Lambuli Central Pulpery Cooperative Society Limited and Masaaba Cooperative Union Limited, which was registered in 1964 and originally dealt in cotton. Governance and budgetary allocations within these entities are under intense scrutiny.
The investigations gained momentum when the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, who is also the Bukedea District Woman MP, referred a report on the misappropriation of sh164b to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Police and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) for further handling.
Sources revealed that a joint investigation team comprising the Police’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the Internal Security Organisation and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, has been regularly convening to compare notes over the ongoing investigations.
So far, CID has taken charge of five identified cases of MPs, mainly revolving around allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement and causing financial loss.
Last year, former state minister for trade Harriet Ntabazi revealed that over 30 MPs, including five vocal opposition members, were under investigation for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of the Shs164b designated for compensation of co-operatives. Ntabazi has since been replaced by Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi as the state minister for trade.
Although Ntabazi did not disclose the names of the legislators, Parliament’s report named MPs such as Mudimi Wamakuyu (Elgon County), Michael Mawanda (Igara East), and former Kyankwanzi District Woman MP Anne Maria Nankabirwa. Last September, the trade committee led by Mbarara City South MP Mwine Mpaka interacted with 15 cooperatives across the country, which are said to have received the money through the trade ministry.
AKAMBA RE-ARREST
Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro granted Akamba a cash bail of sh13m on Friday. But as he moved out of the court premises, he was re-arrested. Despite attempts to resist, Akamba was overpowered and whisked away to an undisclosed location.
Akamba’s lawyer, Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality), condemned the re-arrest, emphasising that his client had met all court requirements for bail. Until yesterday, the Police was yet to issue a statement on the MP’s re-arrest.
Prosecution ready The prosecution said they were ready to proceed with the trial of the re-arrested MP (Akamba) together with his two colleagues.
On the same day, the Anti- Corruption Court declined to grant bail to Akamba’s colleagues (Mutembuli and Namujju).
The magistrate ruled that Namujju and Mutembuli lacked the necessary documents to meet their bail application.
She said Namujju failed to accompany her application with a letter showing proof of a fixed place of abode and that her two sureties did not meet the requirements.
The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Josephine Namatovu, informed court on Friday that they were ready to prosecute the three MPs who are facing corruption charges.
Namatovu told court that the Police had gathered all the necessary evidence to commence hearing of the case.
ALLEGATIONS
It is alleged that Mutembuli, Akamba and Namujju, on May 13, 2024, at Hotel African in Kampala, solicited from Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), an undue advantage of 20% of the anticipated enhanced budget of UHRC for the financial year 2024/2025.
They allegedly asserted that they were able to exert undue influence over the decision-making of the budget committee of Parliament to increase the budget of UHRC.
They denied the charges. Sources revealed that the 2024/2025 UHRC proposed budget was Sh58b.
A 20% commission on this amount would be shu.6b. According to the draft budget estimates, a total of sh2o.5b was allocated to UHRC. Wangadya served as the deputy IGG before being appointed chairperson of the UHRC.
WHY IGG ABANDONED CASE
The IGG, Beti Kamya, has since ceased her involvement in the shl64b co-operatives money probe, leaving the matter to CID.
In a letter dated February 8, 2024, Kamya notified CID and the ODPP of her office’s withdrawal from the case.
During the course of our investigations, the IGG said they had established that cm was also investigating the same matter. “To avoid duplication of work and pursuant to the directive of the Cabinet regarding the matter, I have terminated our investigations so that you proceed with the case.
“For purposes of maintaining the chain of evidence, we will return the original documents regarding the matter that we obtained from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to the same ministry,” Kamya noted.
This was after CID wrote to the finance ministry permanent secretary, Ramathan Ggoobi, requesting approved budgets, warrants, requisition receipts for payment and Integrated Financial Management System payment reports concerning the shi64b.
The Police also requested certified copies of documents for the named co-operatives and the approved or supplementary budgets, releases with respect to the money paid as compensation to the affected co-operative unions and details of the government account in Bank of Uganda from which the funds were drawn.
Graft in house Following the arrest of three legislators, it has emerged that more MPs are being investigated over charges related to graft.
