The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has rejected Mary Gorreti Kitutu’s request for bail as the Minister of Karamoja Affairs continues to suffer in Luzira Prison.
Kitutu’s bail was denied by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro’s court on Wednesday because only one of the four sureties she provided—MP Seth Wambede—provided documentation proving his employment and that his employer and source of income are both known.
Aciro claims that the other sureties Kitutu provided did not fulfil the conditions, such as providing bank statements or work identity cards to prove their ability to pay the money in the event that the suspects flee the scene of the trial.
Her husband Michael Kitutu, African Union diplomat Simon Mulongo, and close family friend Joel Wandagwa served as the sureties.
If she decides she wants to reapply for bail, the magistrate told the Minister to look for additional sureties.
She added that despite the fact that the land documents Kitutu brought were examined and confirmed to be real, according to the law, someone could not be released on bond without at least two sureties.
The Minister and her brother Michael Naboya were remanded to prison until April 12th, 2023 for their separate roles in the diversion of 14,500 pre-painted iron sheets destined for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program last week when they came before the Court.
Along with Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary for the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs Office of the Prime Minister who did not show up in court, the two are accused.
