Just in: Minister Lugoloobi remanded to Luzira

The anti-corruption court in Kololo has declined to grant bail to embattled state Minister for Finance and Planning Hon. Amos Lugoloobi.

The Minister is the 2nd to be arraigned in the court dock after Karamoja Affairs Minister Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu who caught the entire Easter season behind the coolers.

Hon. Lugoloobi who braved 2 cold nights in the coolers of Kiira police station prepared substantial sureties and cited advanced age and ill health as grounds for his bail approval but court judge prayed for more time to listen to either sides of prosecution and the Defence before pronouncing himself on the matter.

The judge subsequently remanded the Minister to Luzira prison till April 20th when bail application will be heard again.

Minister Baryomunsi condemned police approach in arresting Ministers which he claims is populist and devoid of respect.

“Police should not act in a manner that is populist, they should remain professional. I don’t think any minister would run away or hide if they are called at a certain police station. Other than police wanting to appear like it is working, arresting a minister on Friday evening wasn’t called for,” Baryomunsi said. “In my view, it was unfair to arrest a minister on the weekend. The minister (Lugoloobi) told me he had been at CID in the morning (Friday) and he was told to go back home they’d get back to him on Monday, only to be intercepted in the evening as he went to his constituency. In my view it was not necessary if someone is cooperating,” he added.