By Newsroom Reporter
Senior lawyer John Matovu, who is accused of embezzling sh4b meant for co-operative unions, has applied for bail, citing ill-health.
Matovu applied for bail through his lawyers, Israel Kidandire and Rosemary Birungi, at the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala on August 12, 2024.
Matovu is facing charges alongside city lawyer Fred Makada, James Muganza (Jinja district local government commercial officer), and Charles Basoga (chairperson of the Busoga Growers Cooperative Union).
Muganza and Basoga are currently out on bail, while Makada has never appeared in court to take a plea.
Kidandire asked the court, presided over by Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe, to grant Matovu bail, saying he is of advanced age (62) and diabetic, a condition that requires timely medical attention.
He also presented two sureties; Emmauel Sserunjogi (sitting mayor of Kawempe Division in Kampala City) and senior lawyer John Kizito Kaggwa of Kaggwa and Kaggwa Advocates.
Kidandire said that, being a former Uganda Law Society president, Matovu is a law-abiding citizen.
“Granting Matovu bail will not in any way affect the criminal proceedings because investigations are still ongoing,” he argued.
Chief State Prosecutor Stanley Baine asked the court not to grant the accused (Matovu) bail, arguing that the sureties presented are not substantial.
The magistrate will deliver a ruling on Matovu’s bail application on Friday, August 16, 2024.
Charges
The lawyers are facing charges of alleged theft by agents, while Muganza and Basoga are battling charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss.
The offence of theft by agent elicits a 14-year jail term upon conviction, while abuse of office attracts a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment. The offence of causing financial loss attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Basoga and the two lawyers also face a charge of alleged conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code Act.
It is purported that the trio and others still at large, between 2018 and 2023, in Kampala and Jinja districts, conspired to defraud Sh4 billion in funds meant for war loss compensation to Busoga Growers Co-operative Union.
Prosecution alleges that Matovu, between 2018 and 2023, being entrusted as an advocate for Busoga Growers Co-operative Union to pursue the war loss compensation claim from the government, stole sh4b belonging to the cooperative union.
