The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has given a cash bail of 10 million Shillings to the embattled State Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Amos Lugoloobi.
The Ntenjeru North Constituency MP was remanded to Luzira Prison on Monday this week on two counts of dealing with suspect property, charges he pleaded not guilty to.
Represented by his lawyers John Isabirye and Tonny Tumukunde, the Minister applied for bail on grounds that he is unwell and that his health condition cannot allow him stay in prison. He also argued that he is a Member of Parliament, Minister and with a fixed place of residence in Kizungu Zone in Makindye Ssabagabo.
He provided documents from the heart institute to Court and medication he is currently on from Aga Khan hospital for hypertension, Diabetes and Asthma.
The Minister also presented land documents, a certificate of land title of his home in lukuli Makindye Division and sureties.
The sureties included; Hon. Nayigaga Mariam, District Woman MP Namutumba district, Hon James Kakooza EALA MP, Hon Kefa Kiwanuuka – MP Kiboga East and Paul Mugamba Ssempwa among others.
Court deferred the bail ruling too Thursday to allow the presiding magistrate time to verify documents presented by both the sureties and accused.
On Thursday, the court presided over by the Acting Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Albert Asiimwe granted bail to Lugoloobi .
In his ruling, Asiimwe granted Lugoloobi bail on grounds that the prosecution did not bring any information regarding Lugoloobi’s past records to show if he has ever been found guilty of any offense.
He also said that the land documents which were presented before Court were verified and the documents returned to the court showed that he is indeed a resident in Makindye and the land there that he says belongs to him which implies that he has a permanent place of residence.
Asiimwe also said that there was no evidence to show that the minister will interfere with witnesses once released on bail. He said the allegations of interfering with witnesses with no proof cannot curtail an accused person’s constitutional right to liberty.
Asiimwe also said that Lugoloobi produced seven sureties four of them presented Land titles and three were MPs of the Uganda Parliament and one from EALA.
Lugoloobi was ordered to surrender his original land title where his home is situated and also to surrender his original diplomatic passport to the court.
Each of his sureties was asked to execute a non-cash bail of 100 million Shillings.
Asiimwe adjourned the case to June 2nd.
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