KAMPALA – The four top officials in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) accused of bungling up the procurement process of Covid-19 relief food were on Monday, May 4, 2020 released on bail.
Ms Christine Guwatudde Kintu (Permanent Secretary), Mr Joel Wanjala (Under Secretary), Mr Martin Owor ( commissioner disaster preparedness) and Fred Lutimba (the assistant commissioner in charge of procurement) appeared before Buganda Road Magistrates Court via video teleconferencing from Kigo and Kitalya Prisons where they have been held for over two years.
The accused persons applied bail through their lawyers, Macdosman Kabega, Fred Muwema, Medard Ssegona, Evans Ochieng, and Joseph Kyazze.
However, Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Josephine Namatovu who objected to the application, saying that the accused would interfere with investigation.
Presiding Magistrate Doreen Karungi ruled that the accused persons satisfied court on bail considerations and as such be released.
“The accused persons have a right to bail, they are presumed innocent until proved guilty and their sureties are substantial. It is speculative for the state to assert that the applicants will interfere with the witnesses,” Ms Karungi held.
She ordered the each of the accused person to deposit Shs3 million while their sureties were bonded at Shs20 million not cash.
The court ordered the accused persons to deposit their passports in court on June 4 when the matter comes up for mention.
