KAMPALA: The Anti-corruption court in Kampala has ordered that Kawempe South MP and Chairperson of parliament’s committee on Commissions, State Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) Mubarak Munyagwa to appear on the November 4, to face corruption charges relating to a bribe he allegedly received while still mayor for Kawempe Division in Kampala.
The Chief magistrate, Pamella Lamunu on Monday dismissed Munyagwa’s application that sought to block his trial in that court.
The MP had stated that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had no right to institute corruption charges against him when the complainant lost interest in the case.
Ms Lamunu has agreed with the DPP that criminal offences are committed against the State and not individuals and therefore Munyagwa must appear before court.
She further said that the court is not moved by a letter written to it by the complainant Francis Kakumba expressing loss of interest in the pending court case.
It is alleged that in December 2014 at Haks Investment Limited on Sixth Street, Industrial Area, in Kampala, being a mayor of Kawempe Division, Munyagwa solicited for a gratification of Shs100 million from Francis Kakumba in exchange for him to influence Kawempe Division urban council, to nominate his son, Isaac Muyanja, for appointment as a member of the Kampala City Land Board.
That in the same period Munyagwa and place Munyagwa received US$20000 (about Shs 74million) and Shs4 million from Kakumba to nominate his son for the job.
However, Munyagwa through Lukwago and Company Advocates has since filed an application seeking to challenge the said charges in the Constitutional Court and it has not yet been determined.
He notes that on the face of the charge sheets, grave inconsistencies are exhibited and that the act of the DPP to continue prosecuting him is basing on the same is in bad faith.
Munyagwa has castigated the DPP of resurrecting the case after abandoning it for over four years, saying it was inconsistent with the constitution, more so when the complainant lost interest in the case.
