Kampala, Uganda – Three Members of Parliament from the ruling NRM party have been charged and remanded to prison over their involvement in a budget corruption scandal.
Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), Paul Akamba (Busiki Constituency), and Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Dionizia Namujju appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo on Wednesday and were formally charged with corruption.
The MPs allegedly solicited a 20% bribe from the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, in exchange for influencing the Budget Committee to increase the commission’s budget for the financial year 2024/2025.
President Yoweri Museveni recently vowed to take action against MPs and Ministry of Finance officials involved in budget corruption, stating that they would be prosecuted and punished.
The MPs have been in police custody since June 10 and will apply for bail on Friday, June 14. The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater transparency and accountability in government.
The Anti-Corruption Court’s Chief Magistrate, Ms. Joan Aciro, presided over the hearing and remanded the MPs to Luzira Prison until Friday.
