Kitutu sent back to Luzira coolers
The Anti Corruption Court in Kampala was less dramatic on Wednesday afternoon as the Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu and brother Michael Naboya appeared for a bail application ruling.
The duo was remanded to Luzira last week on charges of loss of public property, conspiracy to defraud and theft of government property respectively.
Unlike on Thursday last week when the controversial Minister made a dramatic entry with a scarf wrapped over her head and one eye peeping out, this time round she plainly accessed the courts escorted by prison wardens upon her arrival at 2:00pm.
The court was presided over by the Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro who denied Kitutu bail on grounds because her three sureties failed to provide proper documents of their workplace and source of income or earnings.
They failed to show their bank statements or employment identity cards to demonstrate their capacity to pay bond money in case the suspects abscond from the trial.
Kitutu sent back to Luzira coolers
Except for one identified as Seth Wambede, an MP for Mbale North, the rest were not substantial.
Her Worship Aciro, the rest of the sureties presented by Kitutu did not meet the requirements such as presenting their bank statements or employment identity cards to demonstrate their capacity to pay the money in case the suspects abscond from the trial.
The other sureties included her husband Michael Kitutu, African Union Diplomat Simon Mulongo, and family friend Joel Wandagwa.
Aciro asked the Minister to look for other sureties if she is still interested in seeking bail again.
In response to the ruling, John Musiime one of Kitutu’s lawyers asked for court to allow them bring more sureties, this was not protested by the state and presiding Magistrate set Friday 14th April for this to take place.
The defense team went ahead and applied for bail for Kitutu’s co-accused and relative Michael Namboya Kitutu; they presented three surerities in support of the application.
However, Senior state Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, objected to the application presenting several grounds as to why the accused person should be released on bail. His bail ruling has been fixed for 27th April.
Minister Kitutu faces two counts of loss of public property and one count of conspiracy to defraud according to the charge sheet that was presented before court last week.
Joshua Abaho, the senior assistant secretary in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister did not appear in court despite court issuing criminal summons.
His lawyers today told court that he didn’t received the said summons besides he is taking care of his ailing wife: he asked court to allow the accused person appear in court in the few coming days.
She also said that although the land documents Kitutu presented were verified and found to be genuine, the laws provide that for one to be given bail, they must have at least two sureties.
The Minister and her brother Michael Naboya last week appeared before the Court and were remanded to jail until April 12th, 2023 for their respective roles in diverting 14,500 pre-painted iron sheets intended for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program.
Kitutu sent back to Luzira coolers
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
