On Friday evening, turmoil broke out at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala when plain-clothed gunmen rearrested Busiki County MP Paul Akamba shortly after his bail release.
Earlier that day, Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro had granted Mr. Akamba a cash bail of Shs13 million, pending the hearing of his case alongside co-accused Ms. Cissy Namujju Dionizia (Lwengo Woman MP) and Mr. Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East County MP). He was also required to surrender his passport, and his sureties were bound to a non-cash bail of Shs100m.
Following his release, Mr. Akamba, who had spent the previous night in Luzira Prison, expressed a visible sense of relief, and his family and supporters celebrated his temporary freedom.
A supporter remarked, "This is a promising start for justice; our MP is innocent," amidst hugs and cheers.
However, their joy was abruptly shattered when armed plain-clothed officers seized Mr. Akamba, forced him into a vehicle, and drove him to an undisclosed location, leaving his distraught supporters powerless to intervene.
Meanwhile, Ms. Namujju and Mr. Mutembuli were denied bail due to incomplete documentation.
Prosecutors accuse the three MPs of demanding a 20 percent bribe from Ms. Mariam Wangadya, chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, on May 13, 2024, at Hotel Africana, in return for influencing the Parliamentary Budget Committee to increase the UHRC's budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.