Witness absence delays trial in Mitooma Chief Magistrate corruption case

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The trial of the Chief Magistrate of Mitooma Magistrate’s Court, who is accused of soliciting a bribe of sh2.5 million, has been postponed due to the absence of a prosecution witness.

Chief Magistrate Rachael Nakyazze, of the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, adjourned the case to September 29, 2025, after the prosecution informed the court that the scheduled witness was unavailable.

Chief State Attorney Barbara Masinde, from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), told the court she did not have a witness ready to testify and requested another date to present one.

Prosecution witness number seven had been due to testify in the case, in which Sylvia Nvanungi is accused of soliciting sh2.5 million from a relative of John Ambasize. Nvanungi is jointly charged with Jackline Bako, a state attorney at the ODPP.

Charges

It is alleged that Nvanungi committed the offence while serving as Chief Magistrate at Sembabule Chief Magistrate’s Court.

According to the prosecution, led by Masinde, in April 2023, while carrying out her duties in Masaka city and Sembabule district, Nvanungi solicited a bribe of sh2.5 million from a relative of John Ambasize.

The money was allegedly requested in exchange for granting bail to Ambasize, who was then on remand.

Bako faces seven counts of corruption, relating to the solicitation of bribes from various individuals.

It is alleged that on April 12, 2023, while serving as a State Attorney at the ODPP, Bako solicited a bribe of sh2.5 million from Zedekai Karinti, at the Resident State Attorney’s office in Sembabule District, in exchange for securing his release on bail.

Karinti has been summoned to appear in court; however, the specific offence for which he was summoned has not been disclosed.

In another charge, it is alleged that on the same day, Bako, while serving as officer in charge of the Resident State Attorney’s office in Sembabule, accepted a bribe of sh1.4 million from Franco Mulangwa in exchange for granting bail to Karinti.

The prosecution further alleges that in May 2022, at the same office, Bako solicited sh10 million from Karinti in order to exclude him from charges of attempted murder, criminal trespass, and malicious damage to property.

Additionally, Bako is accused of accepting a bribe of sh7 million from Karinti, a suspect in an attempted murder case under criminal case number CRB/034/2022, in order to remove him from the list of accused persons.

It is also alleged that during March and April 2023, in Sembabule district, Bako solicited a bribe of sh2 million from a person identified only as Eric Sabiti, one of the accused in a separate attempted murder case, in exchange for bail.

The accused have denied all charges and are currently out on bail.

DPP warns staff against corruption

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo, has consistently warned her staff against engaging in corrupt practices. She stressed that there is no justification for any ODPP employee to indulge in corruption.

What the law says

Under Section 2 of the Anti-Corruption Act, a person convicted of corruption is liable to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine not exceeding sh4.8 million, or both.