The Anti-Corruption court has issued criminal summons against Busiki County MP Paul Akamba after he failed to appear in court for a case in which he is jointly charged with six others for allegedly defrauding over Shs 3.4 billion.
The summons were issued by Patrick Talisuna, the acting assistant registrar for the High court who presided over the session on behalf of the trial judge, Jane Okuo Kajuga. The case, which involves Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited, was scheduled for mention.
State attorney Raymond Mugisa informed the court that the case is pending a Constitutional court ruling on an application filed by Akamba. In the application, Akamba seeks to enforce his human rights, alleging he was tortured while in state custody.
However, while his co-accused were present in court, Akamba was absent, prompting the prosecution to request criminal summons and an adjournment. The defense team, led by former deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, stated that they were uncertain when the Constitutional court would rule on Akamba’s application.
In response, Talisuna set June 6, 2025, as the next court date and issued criminal summons for Akamba. Akamba is jointly charged with five others, including former permanent secretary in the ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, Geraldine Ssali. The other co-accused are Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu, principal cooperative officer in the ninistry of Trade Leonard Kavundira, and city lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko.
The prosecution alleges that between 2019 and 2023, Akamba, Mawanda, Wamakuyu, Kirya, Kavundira, and Ssali conspired to embezzle Shs 3.4 billion meant for compensating Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited in Bulambuli district.
Akamba faces two separate corruption cases in the Anti-Corruption court. Both have stalled due to his application in the Constitutional court, in which he seeks to have his trial nullified on grounds of alleged torture.
On October 1, 2024, Justice Lawrence Gidudu, head of the Anti-Corruption court, halted a separate corruption trial in which Akamba was jointly charged with two other MPs. Justice Gidudu referred Akamba’s application to the Constitutional court for determination but declined to drop the corruption charges against him.
The Constitutional court is set to interpret two key legal questions: Whether sections 7, 8, and 11(2) of the Human Rights Enforcement Act allow a trial court to nullify a trial and acquit an accused person without taking evidence, thereby violating the right to a fair hearing.
Whether a victim of crime has a right to a fair hearing under Article 28 of the Constitution. In the first halted trial, Akamba is jointly charged with Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju Dionizia and Bunyole East MP Yusuf Mutembuli for allegedly soliciting a 20 per cent bribe from the Uganda Human Rights Commission to influence the approval of its budget.
Through his lawyer Jude Byamukama, Akamba claims his rights were violated during his re-arrest in June 2024, shortly after securing bail. He alleges that he was detained in an ungazetted facility for seven days before being presented in court on additional charges.
Akamba was re-arrested outside court premises after posting bail of Shs 13 million. He was later charged alongside Mawanda, Wamakuyu, Ssali, Kavundira, and Kirya, all of whom are currently out on bail.
In total, Akamba paid Shs 98 million to secure temporary freedom after spending over 60 days in detention. Justice Gidudu also declined to halt another corruption trial against Akamba, which involves the alleged theft of Shs 3.4 billion alongside Ssali and four others.
The judge ruled that he lacked the authority to direct another judge on how to handle a separate case. Following this ruling, Akamba’s lawyers filed another application seeking to have the charges dismissed on grounds of torture. The matter is now before the Constitutional court, awaiting a decision.