Lawyer accused of stealing sh444m from nurses, midwives seeks bail

KAMPALA - A lawyer accused of conspiring to steal shillings 444 million from the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council has applied for bail.

Akleo Migisha, on July 8, 2025, appeared before the Kampala city, Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court presided over by Justice Michael Elubu, seeking to be released on bail pending trial, which is yet to be scheduled.

According to the prosecution, Migisha is jointly facing the charge of conspiracy to defraud alongside fellow lawyer Martha Orishaba, engineer Julius Mugambagye, and others still at large.

It is alleged that between November 2019 and February 2020, within Kampala City, the accused conspired to steal shillings 444 million from the council.

In a separate charge, prosecution alleges that in November 2019, between Kampala and Masaka, Migisha, with intent to defraud, forged an arbitral award dated November 22, 2019.

The alleged forged document purported to be between Ram Engineering Uganda Ltd and the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council and was allegedly signed by an arbitrator named Tugumisirize under arbitral case number 78 of 2019.

Through his lawyer, Boniface Lukwago, Migisha argued that bail is a constitutional right and assured court that if granted, he would not abscond from trial.

Lukwago further submitted that his client has substantial sureties who will ensure he appears in court whenever required.

“The respondent, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(ODPP), is not ready to commence the trial, and the accused, who is still presumed innocent, will suffer greatly if he remains on remand,” Lukwago said.

Prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Gertrude Apio from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), opposed the bail application, arguing that Migisha had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances required for the grant of bail.

Apio told the court that the accused is a highly elusive individual and a flight risk. She noted that if released on bail, he is likely to abscond.

"The accused previously absconded when the case was still before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court," Apio said.

Justice Michael Elubu said he will deliver his ruling on the bail application on July 22, 2025.