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The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court has ordered the state to disclose the evidence they will rely on in a case where Mitooma Chief Magistrate Sylvia Nvanungi is facing corruption charges.

Nvanungi was charged alongside a state attorney at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Jackline Bako, on November 22, 2023.

Nicholas Kawooya, senior state attorney at the ODPP, informed the court that the state attorney handling the case was attending a prosecutors' symposium and asked for an adjournment to enable the state attorney to update the court on the progress of the case.

Mark Chirchir, representing the accused, opposed the application for adjournment, saying the state is delaying the case. He stated that the prosecution has partially disclosed the evidence on which they intend to rely.

“The state is not interested in prosecuting this matter, and the accused are disgruntled. I pray that this case be dismissed for want of prosecution,” Chirchir said.

Chief Magistrate Aciro granted the request and adjourned the case to May 27, 2024, when the prosecution will update the court on the status of investigations. However, she directed the prosecution to disclose all the necessary documents they are going to rely on to the defence lawyer.

Prosecution’s case

It is alleged that Nvanungi committed the offence while she was employed as a chief magistrate at the Sembabule Chief Magistrate’s Court before she was transferred to Mitooma.

The prosecution said Nvanungi, during the month of April 2023 in Masaka City and Sembabule district, in the performance of her duty, solicited a bribe of sh2.5m from a relative of John Ambasize.

It is alleged that Nvanungi solicited the money to grant bail to Ambasize, who was on remand.

Nvanungi’s co-accused, Bako, was charged with seven counts of corruption and soliciting gratification from different people.

Charges against state attorney

It is alleged that Bako, on April 12, 2023, at the Resident State Attorney’s office in Sembabule district while employed at the ODPP, solicited gratification of sh2.5m from Zedekai Karinti in exchange for the release on bail of Kirintu. 

In another count, it is alleged that Bako, on April 12, 2023, while employed as in charge of the Resident State Attorney’s office at Sembabule, accepted a bribe of sh1.4m from Franco Mulangwa in exchange for granting bail to Karintu.

The prosecution further alleges that in May 2022, at the Resident State Attorney’s office in Sembabule, Bako solicited sh10m from Karintu to exclude him from the offences of attempted murder, criminal trespass, and malicious damage to property.

Furthermore, Bako is alleged to have accepted gratification of sh7m from Karintu, one of the suspects in attempted murder under criminal case number CRB/034/2022, to exclude him from the charges of attempted murder.

Bako allegedly solicited gratification of shillings 2 million from Eric Sabiti, one of the accused persons in an alleged attempted murder case in March and April 2023 in Sembabule district in exchange for bail. They denied the charges.