Court issues criminal summons against Minister Lugoloobi

By Racheal Najjuma

2^nd June 2023

The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued a criminal summons against State Minister for Planning, Amos Lugoloobi after failing to appear in court. 

The summons was issued on Friday by Chief Magistrate Moses Nabende after a request by State Attorney Safina Bireke.

Bireke said that Lugoloobi was expected to attend court in the iron sheets case where he is accused of two counts of dealing with suspect property but he did not show up.

Bireke also informed the court that investigations into this case are still ongoing and asked to be given a short adjournment and criminal summons being issued against the accused.

Lugoloobi’s lawyers led by John Isabirye and Tony Tumukunde asked Court not to issue criminal summons against their client saying that they informed the court that their client is traveling out of the country for State duties and specifically to attend the African Policy Dialogue which was for yesterday and today in Lusaka, Zambia.

The court has heard that Lugoloobi’s lawyers served the prosecution the letter containing details of their client’s travel on May 19^th 2023 and his passport which was before the court was released to him for official travel.

The lawyers informed the court that Lugoloobi will be around at the next court session.

Nabende issued a criminal summons against Lugoloobi adding that the trial Magistrate is indisposed and directed the accused to appear before Court on June 29th, 2023.

Lugoloobi was granted cash bail of 10 million Shillings after denying the charges against him and ordered not to travel outside the country unless permitted by the Court.