Court ejects Kasese MP Bihande Bwambale

By Michael Odeng

Bukonzo County East MP Bihande Bwambale Yokasi of FDC has been thrown out of Parliament.

The Constitutional Court on Monday upheld a High Court ruling ejecting Bwambale for swindling constituency development fund amounting to sh20m.

Five judges led by the Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma ordered Bwambale to refund all the emoluments he has been getting since his conviction by the High Court in April, 2012.

Bwambale admitted stealing sh20m meant for his constituency. He pleaded guilty to the charges of embezzlement and uttering false accountability to the chief accountant of Parliament.

During the High Court hearing, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire asked him whether the facts stated in the charge sheets were true and correct. "It is true I stole," the legislator admitted.

Bamugemereire subsequently sentenced Bihande to a fine of sh6m or serve three years imprisonment in default. But a concerned citizen filed a constitutional petition against the MP and the Attorney General seeking declaration that the MP was supposed to vacate his seat upon conviction by the Anti-Corruption Court.