UGANDA, Karamoja | Real Muloodi News | The embattled Karamoja Affairs minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, has finally been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Court in Uganda, after spending 8 days in Lazura Prison.
Kitutu was given a cash bail of 10 million Shillings after presenting new sureties with the required documentation, including identification documents, business registration certificates, bank statements, and introduction letters from their respective chairpersons.
The sureties were Dominic Gidudu Mafabi, Godfrey Wakili, Peter Werike, Gregory Mafabi, and Dr. John Seith Magolo.
The minister had previously been denied bail on Wednesday after three of her sureties were deemed insufficient. The previous sureties included her husband Michael Kitutu, Simon Mulongo; a diplomat at African Union, Dr Joel Wandagwa, and Seth Wambede; Mbale City North MP.
However, the court found that only Wambede was a substantial surety, as the other three did not have proof of employment to demonstrate their financial capability to fulfill their duties as sureties.
Consequently, on Friday, her lawyers presented new sureties with the required documentation to satisfy the court’s requirements.
The State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya did not object to the new sureties, but requested that stringent terms be imposed on the suspects in case the court granted bail to Kitutu. The court granted Kitutu cash bail of 10 million Shillings and 200 million Shillings in bond.
In addition to Kitutu, her co-accused and brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu, was also granted bail of 3 million Shillings cash. His sureties were Irene Khainza Wandabwa; a retired Resident District Commissioner, and Tadeo Walwa; the LC III chairperson of Bukawekha sub-county in Namisindwa District. They were bonded 100 Million Shillings, not cash.
Kitutu was charged last week with causing the loss of public property by diverting 14,500 pieces of iron sheets that were meant to benefit the people of Karamoja under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program. She is accused of using her position to divert the iron sheets for her personal gain, causing a loss to the public.
The case has been adjourned to April 27th to update the court on the investigation’s status. The Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro, who granted bail to the accused, considered the sureties to be substantial and granted bail to Kitutu and her co-accused.
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