Katto out on bail
THE High Court yesterday released businessman Emmanuel Katto on a sh3m bail, a day after he was remanded in Luzira Prison over corruption charges.
By Hillary Kiirya
THE High Court yesterday released businessman Emmanuel Katto on a sh3m bail, a day after he was remanded in Luzira Prison over corruption charges.
Justice Remmy Kasule released Katto at 3:00pm on condition that he deposited a land title for his residential house in Ntinda worth some sh300m in court. His sureties were bonded for sh50m.
Katto is required to report to the Buganda Road Court chief magistrate, Margaret Tibulya, every 25th day of the month.
He retains his passport for reasons that he is an international businessman who travels a lot.
Katto’s lawyer Bob Kasango said if Katto were to surrender his passport, he would not be able to function.
“It would be denying him a livelihood.
“Since he is the sole provider for his family, he needs his passport to carry on with business to sustain the family,†he said.
Bob Kabonero of Kampala Casino, advocate Apollo Makubuya and Barnabas Turemwa, Katto’s long-time friends, stood surety for him. Relatives, the businesspeople and rally fans were present.
The corridor to the judge’s chambers was too small to accommodate the big number of sympathisers and journalists.
After the ruling, relatives and friends hugged and shouted with joy.
Katto does not suffer from any grave illness and is not of advanced age, which is the exceptional condition for bail in such a case at such a level.
However, Kasango said, “An accused person is innocent until proved guilty. Therefore, denying my client bail would be totally unfair to him and his family.
“For the case of him interfering with the witnesses, we are informed by the Director of Public Prosecution that Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh is the principle witness in this case. It is therefore in no doubt that my client will not interfere with such a person of high magnitude.â€
He said Katto was abroad when the summons were issued and that if he wanted to flee, he would have done so then.
Katto is charged with corruptly offering a bribe to Salim Saleh to secure a contract to supply military helicopters, which were described as junk.
THE High Court yesterday released businessman Emmanuel Katto on a sh3m bail, a day after he was remanded in Luzira Prison over corruption charges.
Justice Remmy Kasule released Katto at 3:00pm on condition that he deposited a land title for his residential house in Ntinda worth some sh300m in court. His sureties were bonded for sh50m.
Katto is required to report to the Buganda Road Court chief magistrate, Margaret Tibulya, every 25th day of the month.
He retains his passport for reasons that he is an international businessman who travels a lot.
Katto’s lawyer Bob Kasango said if Katto were to surrender his passport, he would not be able to function.
“It would be denying him a livelihood.
“Since he is the sole provider for his family, he needs his passport to carry on with business to sustain the family,†he said.
Bob Kabonero of Kampala Casino, advocate Apollo Makubuya and Barnabas Turemwa, Katto’s long-time friends, stood surety for him. Relatives, the businesspeople and rally fans were present.
The corridor to the judge’s chambers was too small to accommodate the big number of sympathisers and journalists.
After the ruling, relatives and friends hugged and shouted with joy.
Katto does not suffer from any grave illness and is not of advanced age, which is the exceptional condition for bail in such a case at such a level.
However, Kasango said, “An accused person is innocent until proved guilty. Therefore, denying my client bail would be totally unfair to him and his family.
“For the case of him interfering with the witnesses, we are informed by the Director of Public Prosecution that Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh is the principle witness in this case. It is therefore in no doubt that my client will not interfere with such a person of high magnitude.â€
He said Katto was abroad when the summons were issued and that if he wanted to flee, he would have done so then.
Katto is charged with corruptly offering a bribe to Salim Saleh to secure a contract to supply military helicopters, which were described as junk.