By Flavia Ajok
The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has granted bail to Matthew Bagonza, the head of the Secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Export and Industrial Development (PACEID).
Bagonza is facing charges of abuse of office and money laundering involving more than Shs1 billion.
Justice Jane Kajuga on Wednesday granted Bagonza cash bail of Shs20 million and ordered his five sureties to execute non-cash bonds of Shs30 million each.
In her ruling, the judge rejected the prosecution’s objections and found that Bagonza had presented credible sureties and established places of abode. She noted that he has a home in Mpala Cell, Katabi, and land in Bugaya County, Hoima City, and that the prosecution did not contest either.
The prosecution, led by Paul Kato, had opposed the application. Investigator Agreey Mpamizo argued that the seriousness of the offences could tempt the accused to flee the country. The prosecution also questioned whether the sureties, whom it described as busy people, could ensure that Bagonza consistently appeared in court.
Justice Kajuga dismissed that argument.
