The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has temporarily suspended the corruption trial of three members of Parliament—Cissy Namujju, Yusuf Mutembule, and Paul Akamba—following claims of human rights violations raised by Akamba. This hold will remain in effect until the court hears and resolves an application filed by Akamba.
The ruling, issued on August 14, 2024, comes in response to Akamba’s allegations that his fundamental human rights were violated during his arrest on June 14, 2024. He claims he was physically assaulted by security officials and unlawfully detained in a secluded location for seven days.
In addition to the trial suspension, Akamba has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General, seeking to have his ongoing trial, in which he is accused of soliciting a 20% bribe from the proposed enhanced budget of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, declared null and void.
Presiding Judge Lawrence Gidudu supported Akamba’s application, stating that his complaints would be addressed under Section 8 of the Human Rights Enforcement Act.
“According to Section 8 of the Human Rights Enforcement Act, if a complaint about human rights violations arises during a trial, the court must temporarily put a stop to the trial to allow for an investigation into the alleged violations, and this is what is going to be done,’’ Gidudu revealed.
The court has scheduled the hearing for Akamba’s application on August 23, 2024. His co-accused legislators, Namujju and Mutembule, who did not join in this application, have had their bail extended until September 30.
