The Parliament of Uganda has vowed to support the three legislators recently arrested on allegations of corruption until a court verdict is reached. This commitment was reaffirmed by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa during the handover ceremony of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs held earlier today.
Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa was clear in his statement, emphasizing that this stance should not be seen as an endorsement of corrupt practices.
"We stand by our colleagues until proven guilty," he said. "This is not an endorsement of corruption, but a principle of presumption of innocence until proven otherwise."
Tayebwa also addressed concerns among legislators regarding the budget presentation session, urging them not to avoid the event due to fear of arrest. This follows reports of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption involving several Members of Parliament (MPs). Tayebwa reassured MPs, emphasizing the importance of their presence at the budget reading.
Reports from the local media outlet the Daily Monitor indicated that a number of MPs had considered skipping today's budget reading, spurred by the confirmation that numerous security and intelligence officials, including AIG Tom Magambo, the police director of Criminal Investigations, would be in attendance. Magambo is at the forefront of the current inquiries.
Earlier this week, three MPs were arrested and subsequently brought before the Anti-Corruption Court. They have been charged with corruption, although they denied the allegations. The court has remanded them to Luzira Prison until June 14th. The arrested legislators are Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), Paul Akamba (Busiki South), and Cissy Namujju (Lwengo District), all members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Notably, two of the arrested MPs were previously members of the influential Budget Committee, responsible for the initial examination of national revenue and expenditure estimates before parliamentary approval. Their involvement in such a crucial committee underscores the gravity of the allegations and the subsequent impact on parliamentary proceedings.
As the investigation continues, the parliament's support for the accused MPs highlights the balance between upholding legal principles and maintaining the integrity of the legislative body. The ongoing situation has put a spotlight on corruption issues within the government and raised questions about transparency and accountability among public officials.
The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for the perception of corruption in Uganda's political landscape and the enforcement of anti-corruption measures. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming court proceedings set for mid-June.
