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The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has postponed its ruling on an application made by the former president of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) in connection with travel to the US.

Principal Magistrate Christopher Opit initially had scheduled the ruling for May 7, 2024, but deferred it after Sarah Kityo stated that her lawyer was absent.  

Magistrate Opit informed Kityo, who is accused of fraudulent accounting involving shillings 186 million, that the ruling would be determined on May 30.

Kityo, through lawyer Joseph Luzige, applied to the court on Friday, May 3, 2024, seeking the return of her passport to facilitate travel for a meeting and to visit her children in the US and requested two months.

However, Chief State Attorney Nelly Asiku from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions objected to the application, citing the readiness of the prosecution to commence the trial with evidence.

According to the prosecution's case, it is alleged that between December and November 2021 at UNF, Kityo, and others still at large, with the intent to defraud, were involved in false accountability regarding shillings 186 million released by the National Council of Sports to the federation for the Pent Series and the African National Championship in Namibia. Kityo has denied the charge.

She faces one count of fraudulent false accounting under Section 23 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009 as amended, which carries a penalty of seven years imprisonment upon conviction, a fine of shillings 3.7 million, or both. Additionally, any person convicted under the Anti-Corruption Act is prohibited from holding public office for 10 years. Kityo is currently out on bail pending trial.