Lwengo Woman Member of Parliament Cissy Namujju has on Wednesday, June 12 been remanded to Kitalya Prison over corruption.
The legislator is among the several others being probed for allegedly soliciting bribes from accounting officers in exchange for approving government agency budgets.
On Wednesday, she appeared in the Anti-Corruption Court dock two other MPs Paul Akamba of Busiki County and Yusuf Mutembuli, the vice chairperson of the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee.
The arrests and subsequent remanding of the legislators stems from president Yoweri Museveni’s revelation while addressing the country on State of Nation last week.
Museveni confirmed he had credible evidence that legislators were colluding with Finance ministry officials to influence the budget process.
“Reports have been circulating about Ministry of Finance officials and Parliament members colluding to allocate funds in exchange for a cut. Initially, I was skeptical, but now I have proof,” he said.
The humble beginnings of Cissy Namujju
Namujju started out in the corridors of power as a tea girl. According to sources in the presidency, Namujju was purportedly very close to then Vice President Gilbert Bukenya. As a smart woman, Namujju capitalized on the good relationship to make acquaintances with the bigshots in the presidency. She served tea in the office of Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso and would later also catch the eye of Amelia Kyambadde.
In 2016, backed by her friends in high places she successfully stood as MP and dislodged Sarah Nkonge. The campaign was reportedly bankrolled by various powerful men and women who wanted to curtail Nkonge’s fast-rising profile.
In the aftermath of the elections, Nkonge challenged the results in court alleging Namujju lacked the prerequisite academic requirements, had forged academic documents and bribed voters. To make her case, Namujju was cross-examined in court and shocked the courtroom as she failed basic Primary Three level questions including:” What is a map?”
However, she won the case and the appeal.
Before she was remanded, police conducted searches at her residence, a palatial mansion on Entebbe Road. Reports allege over Shs1bn was recovered in hard cash US dollar notes.
Meanwhile, 10 other officials have reportedly been summoned by CID headquarters as the investigation into the corruption racket between the executive and Parliament unfolds.
