Mbarara City North Member of Parliament (MP), Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, has petitioned the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) to intervene and take action against three government officials he accuses of wrongfully prosecuting him.

Rukaari has named the officials as ASP Karim Mukiibi and his (Karim’s) unnamed colleague, both of whom are attached to the Police Anti-riot Unit.

Others on his complaint list include Commercial Division of the High Court assistant registrar Mastula Mulondo, who he says colluded with city court bailiff Moses Kirunda to arrest him and irregularly send him to Luzira Prison.

Rukaari is currently out on bail after spending four days in Luzira Prison following his committal by the Commercial Court on March 4.

The MP’s petition is contained in a letter addressed to SHACU head Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke. The letter is dated March 10 and was received by Isoke’s office on the same day.   

Rukari particularly singles out Mukiibi for allegedly using extreme highhandedness on him, which he says was uncalled for.

He also wants SHACU to investigate the involvement of Kirunda in his arrest, noting that he acted in breach of the law because he does not have a valid court bailiff's licence for the year 2023 on the court record.

“This was not only irregular, but also an abuse of court processes,” he said.
Also worth investigating is Mulondo’s involvement in his execution file instead of assistant Juliet Hatanga, who is the official registrar attached to presiding judge Steven Mulira.

"As a Member of Parliament, I am a keen believer in the rule of law and transparency in the administration of justice," he said, adding that what happened during his arrest left a lot to be desired and needs to be addressed.

The legislator, also the National Resistance Movement party national chairperson for the entrepreneurs league, was released at the weekend after he paid shillings 300 million of a business debt of sh702m. 

This came after the court issued an arrest warrant on November 17, 2022, over his failure to pay the debt.   

On Saturday last week, justice minister Norbert Mao condemned the arrest and detention of Rukaari, saying his committal was merely intended to humiliate him.