Paul Akamba, the representative for Busiki County in Parliament, has been referred to the High Court to face charges of soliciting a bribe from Mariam Wangadya, the head of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). These allegations are connected to the approval of the UHRC’s budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
On June 17, 2024, the Anti-Corruption Court, led by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro, also committed Akamba’s co-accused, Cissy Namujju from Lwengo District and Yusuf Mutembuli from Bunyoli East, for trial. Akamba was notably absent, having been re-arrested by security personnel following his bail release.
Despite being granted bail, Akamba remains in custody, now facing additional charges alongside MPs Michael Mawanda of Igara East and Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu of Elgon County. These new allegations involve the misappropriation of over Shs73 million intended for compensating war veterans. This group, which also includes City Lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko and Leonard Kavundira, a principal cooperative officer in the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, is accused of diverting the funds.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has provided committal papers outlining the evidence against the accused. This evidence includes CCTV footage showing the three MPs arriving at Hotel Africana in Kampala, call data records documenting communications between Wangadya and the MPs, and various audio recordings.
The DPP’s evidence summary traces the charges against Akamba, Namujju, and Mutembuli back to a 2023 incident. During this time, Wangadya led the UHRC team to present their budget to the legal and parliamentary committee. It is alleged that Mutembuli offered to assist with the UHRC's financial challenges in exchange for a 5% cut of the enhanced budget. He reportedly requested Wangadya’s contact details and later met with the UHRC accounting officer in Naguru to reiterate his demand.
Wangadya reported these demands to President Museveni, who assured her that he would address the issue. However, on May 13, 2024, Mutembuli called Wangadya to arrange a meeting at Hotel Africana with other key individuals. Wangadya, seeking assistance from a security official, attended the meeting with a recording device. At the Elgon restaurant in Hotel Africana, Mutembuli, Namujju, and Akamba allegedly increased their demand to 20%, promising to influence budget committee members and officials in the Ministry of Finance.
These interactions were recorded by Wangadya, leading to the arrest of the MPs. The suspects are currently on remand, awaiting the court’s decision on the trial date. The evidence collected is anticipated to be pivotal in the trial, shedding light on the ongoing corruption issues within Uganda’s political sphere.
