Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Mitooma Chief Magistrate Sylvia Nvanungi and Sembabule Resident State Attorney Jacqueline Bako found themselves in the crosshairs of the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala, facing allegations of corruption.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro, the duo was confronted with a total of eight corruption charges, with Bako bearing the weight of implication in all counts, while Nvanungi was entangled in one charge. The alleged transgressions unfolded during Nvanungi’s stint as the Sembabule Chief Magistrate earlier in the year.
The court was informed that in April 2023, during their tenure in public office, Nvanungi and Bako purportedly sought gratification amounting to Shillings 2.5 million from the kin of suspects. This substantial sum allegedly changed hands in exchange for bail concessions or modifications to charge sheets. Prosecutors asserted that Franco Mulangwa contributed 1.48 million Shillings to this alleged arrangement, with Bako as the recipient.
The litany of charges further implicated Bako in the solicitation and acceptance of funds from various individuals in return for favors related to bail and alterations to legal charges. Unyielding in their innocence, both accused parties entered pleas of not guilty and sought bail. However, the court rebuffed their entreaties, citing a dearth of trustworthy sureties.
Nvanungi, in a bid for release, underscored personal health challenges and familial responsibilities, asserting a need to clarify her circumstances to judicial authorities. Despite the emotional appeal, the court, grounded in the insufficiency of documentation from the proposed sureties, rejected her plea for bail.
Chief Magistrate Aciro, unwavering in her decision, underscored the lack of proper identification documents for the sureties as the primary reason for refusal. Consequently, the court remanded Nvanungi and Bako until November 23, 2023, advising them to file a second bail application if desired.
The prosecution, represented by Stanley Baine, signaled ongoing investigations and opposed bail for the accused individuals. Notably, the defendants were apprehended by detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit upon reporting as summoned, swiftly brought to court to face trial. The legal proceedings unfold against a backdrop of serious corruption allegations, casting a spotlight on the accountability of these legal professionals.
