Minister Nandutu released on bail

By Rachael Najjuma

4^th May 2023

The Anti Corruption Division of the High Court in Kampala has granted a cash bail of 10 million shillings to State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu who is accused of dealing with suspect property.

Each of her surieties was bonded at 50 million non cash.

The high court judge Jane Okuo Kajuga who presided over also directed that the applicant deposits her passport and land title to court and also banned her from leaving the jurisdictions of this court.

Yesterday Nandutu through his lawyers led by Charles Nandaah Wamukota presented three surieties who included James Nathan Nandala Mafabi the former leader of Opposition in Parliament, Hon Gerald Nangoli the Chairperson of Bugisu Parliamentary Group and Bududa District LC5 Chairperson Milton Apollo Kamoti Wasumbuyi and sought for bail raising different grounds one being that the applicant was sick and her condition couldn’t allow her stay in prison.

In her ruling the trial judge highlighted some grounds upon which she based to grant Nandutu bail which included; that the applicant has severe Venous insufficiency a condition that is serious and needs an emergency attention to avoid recurrence of a clot and she further said that the applicant had a fixed place of aboard in Mukono Municipality, the charges are bailable, the surieties are substantial and that she is a family person who has a family to take care of.

She further noted that there was absence of a formal proof that the applicant had failed to honour the police summons thus she isn’t a flight risk and upon all this she granted her bail

Prosecution alleges that during the month of June 2022 at the office of the Prime Minister’s Stores in Namanve and Kkola Cell Bulwanyi Parish Mukono District, Nandutu dealt with government property that is 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets Gauge 28 by receiving and holding the said iron sheets.

Yesterday, before the same court entertained Nandutu’s bail application, it set 25th May 2023 to begin the hearing of this matter since investigations according to state were done.

END