Finance state minister for planning Amos Lugoloobi was Thursday afternoon granted a sh10m cash bail by the Anti-Corruption Court in the iron sheets case.

The development comes three days after the minister was charged with two counts of dealing with government property — that is, a total of 700 pre-painted iron sheets marked 'Office of the Prime Minister' — between July 14, 2022 and February 28, 2023.

This is contrary to Section 21(A) of the Anti-Corruption Act (as amended).

The Ntenjeru North MP pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

This is court case number 35 of the year 2023 in the Anti-Corruption Division.

Minister Lugoloobi inside the courtroom on Thursday

Kayunga district Woman MP Idah Nantaba was in court on Thursday

Before delivering his decision, acting Principal Senior Grade One Magistrate Ebert Asiimwe said: "When court grants an accused bail, it is not an acquittal."

"When you are subjected to these processes of the law, please accept that we are doing our work," he added.

The magistrate then went to touch on all the components of the arguments presented in Lugoloobi's bail application, including details on a fixed place of abode and interference of witnesses.

On the prosecution's argument that the accused could interfere with witnesses, being a person of influence (a minister), Asiimwe cited past cases to reason that being an influential person should not deny the accused liberty, especially on allegations without evidence being brought in court.

 The acting Principal Senior Grade One Magistrate then delivered his verdict, granting Lugoloobi, who wore a mask throughout, bail on the following terms:

▪️ The applicant will pay a cash bail of sh10m

▪️ The applicant will surrender his original land title

▪️ The applicant shall not leave the country without knowledge and permission of this court and he shall surrender his original diplomatic passport to the same court

▪️ Each of the six sureties is also bonded in the sum of sh100m not cash

▪️ The applicant is cautioned to desist from temptations of interfering  with prosecution witnesses when the case is being heard until it is finalised. Failure to do so will lead to automatic cancellation of bail

"This ruling is delivered in open court this 20th day of April, 2023 in the presence of all parties and just in case the prosecution is offended by my ruling, you have a right to appeal against it," ruled Magistrate Asiimwe.

The case was then adjourned until June 2, 2023, which is 43 days away.

EALA MP Kakooza is one of Lugoloobi's sureties

Lugoloobi being led into the courtroom on Thursday

Lugoloobi becomes the second minister in this evolving iron sheets scandal to be granted bail.

Last Friday (April 14), Karamoja affairs minister Mary Goretti Kitutu was released from prison on a sh10m cash bail by the Anti-Corruption Court after spending eight days behind bars.

This was after her fresh set of sureties were deemed substantial by the court.

Kitutu granted bail along with her brother, Michael Naboya.

Related: Minister Kitutu granted bail

Moments after Karamoja affairs minister Mary Goretti Kitutu was granted bail on April 14, 2023

On Wednesday this week, Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu was produced at the same court after handing herself in to Police following summons late last week. Nandutu.

The Bududu district Woman MP was charged with being in possession of suspect property. She was then committed to the High Court for trial and sent on prison remand until May 3.

As she was being led out of the courtroom, Nandutu paused to briefly address reporters.

"Like I have said before, I have been baptised by fire but I am firm. And the question that I am asking is: Why should Agnes Nandutu be committed to the High Court when the lower court has the mandate to deal with this?"

Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu arrives at the Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday

'Crowds not called for'

On Thursday, a mood of anxiety gripped the Anti-Corruption Court, where dozens of minister Lugoloobi's supporters waited for court's verdict.

Three days earlier, they appeared irritated by the court's decision to delay the delivery of the ruling on the minister's bail application. Some were reported to have travelled all the way from Kayunga, the home district of Lugoloobi.

Back in court hoping for better news this time around, some of the supporters voiced optimism that the minister would be granted bail.

"I am very confident our minister and friend will not return to Luzira today," one said as he waited in the court compound.

Later during the court session, Grade One Magistrate Asiimwe would start off by saying that big crowds are "not called for" and that "the power of numbers does not influence court".

At exactly 11:14am, a Uganda Prisons van shuttled the minister into the Anti-Corruption Court premises, before he was swiftly led into the court's holding cell.

Shortly after, dozens of his supporters, including friends and family, that had arrived earlier then marched into the courtroom to settle in for the court session.

Some wept and others wore worried looks as anxiety mounted. Hours later, though, anxiety turned into elation and relief for them after court granted minister Lugoloobi bail.

They held up placards bearing written messages of support for the minister.

"WE SHALL ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU!" one placard read.

Another said: "WE EXONERATE YOU" while Lugoloobi was described as the "Lion of Kayunga" on another placard.

📸  The moment Lugoloobi arrived at court on Thursday

The minister was brought to court in a Uganda Prisons van, having spent three nights on remand at Luzira.

He was then swiftly led out of the van and quickly into the court's hold cell, offering photojournalists little chance to take a clear photo of the minister.

From a distance, Lugoloobi's supporters could only watch as he was led into the holding cell.

Some of his supporters could not hold back tears.

Earlier this week, on Monday, Principal Senior Grade One Magistrate Ebert Asiimwe said he needed more time to study the documents, majority of which were presented by the defence team, before he could make a decision on Lugoloobi's bail application.

As a result, he sent the minister to Luzira Prison until today's verdict delivery.

Meanwhile, the following are the people that Lugoloobi, through his legal team, presented to court as his sureties:

▪️ Mariam Naigaga, 44, a resident of Kawuku village in Makindye division. She is the  woman reprsentative for Namutumba district in Parliament. She "has been a friend of the applicant for over ten years".

▪️ James Kakooza, 61, a resident of Kizungu in Makindye division. He is a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and a former state minister for health.

▪️ Dr. Kefa Kiwanuka, 64, a resident of Kalungu C village, Ggaba Ward in Makindye division. He is the MP of Kiboga East in Kiboga district. He has been a friend to the applicant for over 10 years.

▪️ Charles Paul Mugambwa, 82, a very close friend of the applicant. He was his best man on December 4, 1990 at the accused's wedding. He is a resident of Kabawanga Zone, Buziga parish, Makindye. He is a former Ugandan ambassador  to Brazil. He is currently engaged in real estate business.

▪️ Martin Ssekajja, 39, a resident of Nazareth Zone, Kyanja parish in Nakawa division. He is the head of operations at Uganda Security Printing Company and a business associate of the applicant. 

▪️ Joseph Muvawala, the executive director of National Planning Authority. He is a resident of Namugongo and the prime minister of Busoga kingdom. He is a very close friend of the applicant.

▪️ Moses Karisa Kalangwa, aged 53. He is a senior businessman from Kayunga.

When applying for bail on Monday, Lugolobi's legal team provided his medical history — based on his physicians and a Police doctor — as part of their justification.

One of the reports was from the Uganda Heart Institute, indicating that the accused is hypertensive, suffering from Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Another was from the Aga Khan Hospital, also showing that Lugoloobi has Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other medical conditions, with him having "a plethora of drugs that he has to take".

An evolving scandal

On February 13 this year, New Vision exclusively reported about the arrests of Karamoja affairs minister Mary Goretti Kitutu's relatives by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit after they were found selling Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) iron sheets.

More ministers were roped into the scandal, with over 15 of them recording statement.

Exactly two weeks ago (April 3), President Yoweri Museveni in his letter to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, said ministers should return the iron sheets if they are still available or personally reimburse the value of the diverted sheets.

"There are two issues of wrongdoing involved," said Museveni.

"If somebody took mabaati (iron sheets) meant for the Karachuna and gave them to people or institutions in his or her constituency, this is political corruption. It is like bribing voters so as to get political favours.

"In the case of the mabaati, it is at the expense of the Karachuna, but also at the expense of the security of the country. Remember, this giving of iron sheets to Karachuna is part of removing them from causing insecurity," added the President.

Museveni termed the actions subversive.

"Under the National Resistance Movement code, cheap popularity is characterised as subversive.

"The ministers that were consciously involved must take personal responsibility, pay back the value of the mabaati they diverted and I will decide the political action to punish this mistake," he said.