Reported by Sandra Ainebyoona
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala was the setting for a bail application hearing for the Honorable Agnes Nandutu, a Member of Parliament for Budduda and Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, before Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga. The hearing was set to determine if Nandutu could be released on bail pending her trial on charges of dealing with suspect property in connection to the Karamoja iron sheets saga.
Nandutu’s defense team argued that she had a fixed place of abode in Mukono district, had voluntarily reported to the CID headquarters on April 18th, and had no previous criminal record. They presented substantial sureties who were ready and willing to stand for her. However, the state argued that Nandutu was a flight risk and had previously declined to answer police summons. They also claimed that she had abandoned her home and official vehicle upon learning that she was wanted by the police.
The defense team countered that there were no allegations to show that Nandutu had dismissed her employees and that she was a niece to one of her sureties, Amooti the LC5. They also argued that the state’s allegation that members of parliament could not meet the financial requirements indicated a lack of trust in their own leaders. The defense team also presented a medical report detailing Nandutu’s medical problems, which required orthopedic attention and stated that she had hypertension.
The state responded by questioning the capacity of one of the sureties and arguing that the allegations of medical health were not substantial. They prayed that the bail application be denied and that the hearing of the main case be prioritized.
Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga heard both sides and requested a medical report from the prison officer to verify Nandutu’s medical claims. She also pointed out that the law did not specify how many sureties were required.
The ruling is set to be delivered on May 4th at 11 am.
