What you need to know:
- Michael Mawanda, the Igara East MP, has been called in due to his alleged involvement in theft, corruption, and attempts to defraud the Buyaka Growers Cooperative of government-disbursed funds intended for war veterans.
- Recently embroiled in a dispute with PLU leader Frank Gashumba, Mawanda is reported to have sought refuge in the UK to avoid facing questioning at the CID headquarters in Kibuli.
The Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has summoned two legislators, including the disciplinary head of the People’s League of Uganda (PLU), as part of ongoing corruption investigations.
Michael Mawanda, the Igara East MP, has been called in due to his alleged involvement in theft, corruption, and attempts to defraud the Buyaka Growers Cooperative of government-disbursed funds intended for war veterans.
Recently embroiled in a dispute with PLU leader Frank Gashumba, Mawanda is reported to have sought refuge in the UK to avoid facing questioning at the CID headquarters in Kibuli.
Meanwhile, Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, the MP for Mbulambuli Constituency in Elgon subregion, has also been summoned. Reports indicate that Wamakuyu, who was seen joking with colleagues in Parliament today, is expected to be detained, joining three other MPs already under arrest in the extensive corruption probe.
The ongoing investigations, stemming from a significant corruption scandal involving the misappropriation of funds meant for cooperatives compensation, have ensnared several legislators. Last week, Yusuf Mutembuli, Cissy Namujju, and Paul Akamba were arrested and charged with corruption related to kickbacks allegedly received during budget negotiations.
Former State Minister for Trade Harriet Ntabazi, during her appearance before the Trade and Tourism Committee in December 2023, revealed that CID had initiated investigations into five cases of cooperative compensation fraud, amounting to Shs48.77 billion in unauthorized payments to various cooperatives.
The findings of the Mwine Mpaaka probe committee, adopted without debate on December 13, 2023, prompted Speaker Anita Among to urge implicated MPs, totaling Shs164 billion in embezzlement charges, to surrender to police before facing arrest.
The cooperatives involved include West Acholi, Busoga Growers, Uganda Transport Association, West Mengo, Banyankoole Kweterana, and Masaba Cooperatives, hinting at further arrests in the near future.
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