Mubende Resident State Attorney Patrick Obbo Oneko, was on Friday evening arraigned before the Kololo-based Anti-Corruption Court and charged for asking and receiving a bribe of Shs500,000. In exchange, Mr Oneko was not to prefer murder charge against a suspect.

Mr Oneko, who appeared before Grade One Magistrate Susan Okeny, denied the related charges. He was released on a cash bail of Shs1.5 million.

Each of his three sureties was told to pay a non-cash bond of Shs50 million.

The IGG, who is prosecuting the matter, claims Mr Oneko on or around April 30, at the Mubende Directorate of Public Prosecutions, corruptly solicited a gratification of Shs500,000 from Mr Francis Katuura, a resident of Kiganda village in Mubende District.

Why the bribe

The kick-back, according to the IGG, was to act as inducement to prevent Mr Obbo from preferring a charge of murder against Mr Katuura’s brother in-law, Mr Gordon Muwange.

Further, the prosecution in count two alleged that Mr Oneko on May 5, received the said bribe from Mr Katuura before being arrested with the money.

During the court proceedings, the IGG representative, Mr Yusuf Kiwanda, asked the presiding magistrate to deny Mr Oneko access to his office given the fact that he now faces criminal charges.

But in her response, the magistrate declined to issues the same orders before referring Mr Kiwanda to liaise with the IGG and the DPP in order to have the same orders effected.

Under the Public Service Standing Orders, when a civil servant is charged with a criminal offence, he/she is suspended to pave way for the investigations and also earns half pay.

Further, the court directed that Mr Obbo’s passport be surrendered to the court for custody. The case was adjourned to May 21 for mention of the case.