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- Uganda Prisons Service denies facilitating a meeting between two inmates and President Museveni
- Three NRM MPs, including Parliament's Legal Committee Vice Chairperson, were arrested for soliciting bribes
- Allegations of the MPs meeting with the President were made by lawyer and human rights activist Nicholas Opiyo
The Prisons Spokesman Frank Baine last evening described as “misleading” reports that two of the three NRM MPs who were arrested for soliciting bribes were taken from Luzira Prison to meet with the Head of State.
The three jailed MPs are Yusuf Mutembuli, the Parliament’s Legal Committee Vice Chairperson, Lwengo Woman MP, Cissy Namujju and Busiki County MP, Paul Akamba
These are alleged to have, solicited from Mariam Wangadya. the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), a bribe of 20% of the anticipated enhanced Budget of the UHRC, promising to help influence over the decision making of the Budget Committee to increase the UHRC Budget.
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Claims that the legislators met with the president were first made by lawyer and human rights activist Nicholas Opiyo.
“Two NRM MPs charged and remanded to prisons on corruption charges were, allegedly, after their detention, secretly whisked from their detention at Luzira Prisons to meet the President at State House, Entebbe. What the president was discussing with the two legislators is unclear but it certainly undercuts his public posture as an anti-corruption crusader,” Opiyo posted on X.
He however did not specify which of the three MPs met the president.
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Frank Baine, Spokesperson Uganda Prisons Services
Misleading
In a statement, Uganda Prisons’ Baine clarified that no such meeting took place.
“False information circulating on social media platforms, purportedly by Counsel Nicholas Opiyo, alleges that two NRM MPs remanded to Luzira Prisons on corruption charges were stealthily taken to State House and met with the President,” Baine wrote.
“As Prisons, we categorically state that these allegations are false and unfounded…there is no reason whatsoever for prisoners to be produced at State House at any time of the day or night.”
Baine added these allegations were “clearly intended to mislead the public for personal political reasons and should be totally disregarded.”
President Museveni during state of the nation address last month hinted on the impending arrest of the MPs. He however expressed interest in extending “amnesty to them.”