The Anti-Corruption Division has summoned a member of parliament to answer to fraud charges totaling 3.8 billion shillings.
The legislator, Paul Akamba, is accused of diverting government funds meant for war victim compensation. His failure to appear in court led to the issuance of a criminal summons.
“I am just sitting in for the trial judge who instructed me to give you the next hearing date of June 6, 2025. The matter is adjourned until then with criminal summons issued against Mr. Akamba,” said Patrick Talisuna, the court’s acting assistant registrar.
Akamba is charged alongside several others, including a former permanent secretary, Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, and fellow lawmakers Michael Mawanda and Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu.
Prosecutors contend that the group engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the government. They allegedly facilitated irregular payments to a law firm and exploited their positions for personal gain.
According to the charge sheet, Ssali irregularly introduced Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society Ltd. among the cooperatives to be compensated by the government for war losses. She allegedly made irregular payments of over 3.8 billion shillings to the law firm under the guise of compensating war victims.
Ssali is accused of conspiring with Akamba and other officials to defraud the government of 3.4 billion shillings intended to compensate war victims. The officials are also accused of stealing, money laundering, and abuse of office.
Akamba’s legal team has filed an application with the Constitutional Court, seeking to dismiss the charges on grounds of alleged human rights violations.
