From Luzira To State House!! Did President Museveni Really Meet The Remanded ‘Corrupt’ NRM MPs Late In The Night , Is Anita Among Involved?

The Uganda Prisons Service has dispelled allegations that it facilitated a meeting between two inmates with President Museveni.

The Prisons Spokesman Frank Baine last evening described as “misleading” reports that two of the three NRM MPs who were arrested for soliciting bribes were taken from Luzira Prison to meet with the Head of State.

The three jailed MPs are Yusuf Mutembuli, the Parliament’s Legal Committee Vice Chairperson, Lwengo Woman MP, Cissy Namujju and Busiki County MP, Paul Akamba.

These are alleged to have, solicited from Mariam Wangadya. the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), a bribe of 20% of the anticipated enhanced Budget of the UHRC, promising to help influence over the decision making of the Budget Committee to increase the UHRC Budget.

Claims that the legislators met with the president were first made by lawyer and human rights activist Nicholas Opiyo.

“Two NRM MPs charged and remanded to prisons on corruption charges were, allegedly, after their detention, secretly whisked from their detention at Luzira Prisons to meet the President at State House, Entebbe. What the president was discussing with the two legislators is unclear but it certainly undercuts his public posture as an anti-corruption crusader,” Opiyo posted on X.

He however did not specify which of the three MPs met the president.In a statement, Uganda Prisons’ Baine clarified that no such meeting took place.

“False information circulating on social media platforms, purportedly by Counsel Nicholas Opiyo, alleges that two NRM MPs remanded to Luzira Prisons on corruption charges were stealthily taken to State House and met with the President,” Baine wrote.

“As Prisons, we categorically state that these allegations are false and unfounded…there is no reason whatsoever for prisoners to be produced at State House at any time of the day or night.”

Baine added these allegations were “clearly intended to mislead the public for personal political reasons and should be totally disregarded.”President Museveni during state of the nation address last month hinted on the impending arrest of the MPs. He however expressed interest in extending “amnesty to them.”

It should be remembered that four NRM legislators were arrested and remanded to Luzira last month on corruption charges.The arrested legislators included; Busiki County Member of Parliament Paul Akamba, Cissy Namujju the Lwengo Woman MP, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda and Elgon County Legislator Ignatius Mudimi.

Prosecutors accused the lawmakers of misappropriating about Shs3.4 billion for purposes unrelated to the to the purpose of the funds.They are also charged with conspiring to defraud the Ugandan government, according to the indictment.

The legislators, who remain in custody, allegedly tried to persuade the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission to inflate the organisation’s 2024/25 budget, in return for a 20-percent kickback.