The High Court’s Anti-Corruption Division has granted bail to six out of nine Ministry of Finance officials implicated in the 60 billion shillings Bank of Uganda heist.
Those released on bail include Accountant General Lawrence Ssemakula, Commissioner Treasury Services Jennifer Muhuruzi, Dorothy Kusiima, Judith Ashaba, Nkakubo Lumala, and Betinah Nayebare.
Justice Lawrence Gidudu set specific bail conditions for Ssemakula and Muhuruzi, requiring each to pay 30 million shillings cash, deposit their land titles and passports with the court, and have four sureties execute a non-cash bond of 300 million shillings. This decision was based on the judge’s observation that they were faulted for supervisory gaps, not theft.
The other four accused who are Nkalubo, Kusiima, Ashaba, and Nayebare were released on cash bails of 25 million and 20 million shillings, respectively, with orders to deposit their passports and not return to the Ministry offices without approval.
“Each person released on bail shall report to the Registrar of this court once every month starting 3’d April 20t25.. If any applicant fails to meet the terms, he/she shall be remanded to appear before the magistrate for mention of their case as directed by the Chief magistrate. Tony Yawe and Mark Kasiiku are remanded to appear for mention of their case before the Chief Magistrate,” Gidudu ruled.
However, Justice Gidudu denied bail to Tony Yawe, a senior IT specialist, and his assistant, Mark Kasiiku, reasoning that they had not provided sufficient security to secure release on bail given their active roles on IFMS which is the reason court is sitting thus they need to do more.
