Two pro-Mbabazi youth jailed
Ms Jacqueline Mbabazi, the wife of Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, chats with NRM youth after proceedings at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala yesterday.
What you need to know:
Allegations. They are accused of bribing and tricking NRM members and mobilisers into signing a petition to convene a delegates conference to challenge the NRM party resolutions.
Kampala.
Two youth supporters of Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi were last evening charged with corruption and remanded to Luzira prison.
Mr Omodo-Omodo, 29, the national vice chairperson of the northern region - NRM Youth League, and Mr Adam Luzinda Buyinza, 31, the national vice chairperson of NRM Youth League Kampala, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo yesterday.
They denied charges of abuse of office contrary to Section 11 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Once convicted of abuse of office, the suspects stand to be jailed up to seven years.
According to the charge sheet, the duo are accused of abusing their authority when they fraudulently induced and tricked the NRM and fraudulently solicited, bribed, induced and tricked its members and mobilisers into signing a petition to convene a delegates conference to challenge the party resolutions.
Presiding Grade One Magistrate Michael Lagara denied the suspects bail on grounds that only one surety out of six presented to court was substantial as the rest were below the accused’s calibre.
The only substantial surety was Ms Jacqueline Mbabazi, the Prime Minister’s wife, also the chairperson of the NRM Women’s League.
“The first surety for Accused One is the only substantial surety and the rest are way below the calibre to stand for the accused,” Magistrate Lagara said.
“I agree with the prosecution and in the result, and I hereby deny all the accused bail,” he added.
The accused will be produced back in court on April 2 for mention of their case.
Youth turn rowdy
Shortly after the magistrate declined to release the suspects on bail, the pro-Mbabazi supporters turned rowdy. “The governance of this country will change if they run the country the way they want…” one pro-Mbabazi supporter shouted. The police reacted by closing the court gates and forced out all those who were still in court premises, vowing not to allow the purported Mbabazi supporters back to court again.
