Shs53b govt heist: Ministry of Finance official released on bail

The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has granted bail to the Assistant Commissioner of Accounts in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development who was arrested a month ago in connection with the theft of Shs53 billion from Bank of Uganda.
Pedson Twesigomwe, one of the suspects who have been in detention was released on bail Thursday, March 20, 2025 after spending 29 days on remand.

The presiding judge, Mr Lawrence Gidudu said Mr Twesigomwe’s sureties who included two MPs were found to be substantial enough to guarantee his return to court whenever called upon.
He was ordered to deposit Shs25 million cash as his bail money while each of his sureties was bonded at Shs300 million, not cash.

Mr Twesigomwe was also ordered to deposit his passport with the court and asked not to go to his work office, except with permission from the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury.
He was also ordered to deposit a land title for plot 23122 Busiro block 273 Unit 465 land at Kyadondo, Wakiso and report to the Registrar of the court once every month starting on April 3, 2025.

His sureties are Roland Ndyomugrenyi, 48, for Rukiga County, Rukiga District and Mr Moses Kamuntu, 44, for Rubanda County West, Rubanda District and the Assistant Commissioner Accounts in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Mr Davis Barugahare.

“MPs are politically exposed persons who can find creditors to service their financial obligations. Further, the charges attract 10 and 15 years respectively on counts four and eleven respectively. These are serious charges. But they are bailable provided sufficient safeguards are put in place. Otherwise, prisons would be full of remand prisoners just because the state wishes them there,” Justice Gidudu ruled.
The judge also observed that Twesigomwe’s co-accused who are on bail have not jumped it yet thus he is inclined to release him on bail.

The prosecution had objected to Twesigomwe’s bail application, arguing that he had jumped police bond. However, court held that his failure to meet the police practice of being detained before being produced in court is not a ground to deny him bail after responding to the court summons.

“It would appear to me that the police would have preferred to first detain the accused before producing him in court. I don't know what this practice achieves in legal terms. It has not been alleged that the accused jumped police bond. It has not been denied that he made a police statement and was not charged to be given bond,” Justice Gidudu ruled.

Twesigomwe’s co-accused who were previously granted bail are the Accountant General in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Lawwrence Ssemakula 58; acting director of Treasury Services and Asset Management, Ms Jennifer Muhuruzi, 55; Dorothy Kusiima, 33, a senior accountant in the Treasury Services Department; Judith Ashaba 43, an accountant; Mr Paul Nkalubo Lumala, 40, a systems IT officer and Bettina Nayebare 31, research assistant.
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