The Mitooma chief magistrate accused of soliciting a bribe of shilling 2.5 million is expected to appear in court today, February 28, 2024.

Sylvia Nvanungi is scheduled to appear at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro for mention of the case.

On January 19, 2024, Magistrate Aciro adjourned the case at the prosecution’s request to allow the Police to undertake further investigation into the case.

Chief State Attorney Stanley Baine, on January 19, 2024, informed the court that the Police are still investigating a case against Sylvia Nvanungi.

Nvanungi was charged alongside a State Attorney at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Jackline Bako, on November 22, 2023. Mbaine asked the court for more time to enable the police to continue investigating the case and gather additional evidence.

On February 28, 2024, Baine is expected to update the court on the progress of the investigation against Nvanungi and Bako.

Allegations

It is alleged that Nvanungi committed the offence while she was employed as a chief magistrate at Sembabule Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The prosecution said Nvanungi, during April 2023 in Masaka city and Sembabule district, in the performance of her duty, solicited a bribe of shillings 2.5 million from a relative of John Ambasize.

It is alleged that Nvanungi solicited the money to grant bail to Ambasize, who was on remand.

Bako was charged with seven counts of corruption in relation to soliciting gratification from different people.

It is alleged that Bako, on April 12, 2023, at the Resident State Attorney’s office in Sembabule district while employed at the ODPP, solicited gratification of shillings 2.5 million from Zedekai Karinti in exchange for the release on bail of Kirintu.

In another count, it is alleged that Bako, on April 12, 2023, while employed as in charge of the Resident State Attorney’s office at Sembabule, accepted a bribe of shillings 1.4 million from Franco Mulangwa in exchange for granting bail to Karintu.

The prosecution further alleges that during May 2022, at the Resident State Attorney’s office in Sembabule, Bako solicited shillings 10 million from Karintu to exclude him from the offences of attempted murder, criminal trespass and malicious property damage.

Furthermore, Bako is alleged to have accepted gratification of shillings seven million from Karintu, one of the suspects in attempted murder under criminal case number CRB/034/2022, to exclude him from the charges of attempted murder.

Bako allegedly solicited gratification of shillings two million from Eric Sabiti, one of the accused persons in an alleged attempted murder case in March and April 2023 in Sembabule district in exchange for bail. They denied the charges.