The former Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Uganda Airlines Cornwell Muleya has been granted a cash bail of Shs 1.5m and ordered to immediately deposit his passport.
Muleya appeared on Tuesday before the Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with Disobedience of orders of the Inspectorate of Government.
It is alleged that between May and June 2022 Cornwell Muleya wilfully and without reasonable justification or excuse refused to comply with an order of the Inspectorate of Government dated May 23, 2022, requiring his attendance to give evidence and produce documents to the Inspectorate of Government regarding mismanagement of public funds, procurement and Recruitment of Staff at the Uganda Airlines.
Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza granted him bail on grounds that he presented substantial sureties and complied to deposit his passport in the court until the case is concluded.
His Worship Muhumuza directed Muleya to first deposit a cash bail of 1.5m, deposit his passport in court and present four sureties to sign a non cash bond of Shs 50m each undertaking to bring the accused person back to Court on 25th/July/2022 for mention of his case.
Defence Lawyer Charles Nsubuga informed the presiding Magistrate that his client is only a suspect, willing to deposit his travel documents in Court; has presented sureties and that he is a resident of Entebbe, Katabi in Wakiso District, a place well known by the State.
It is against this background that Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza found Cornwell's bail application with merit having presented substantial surities, but that his passport has to remain in Court until the Conclusion of his case or if Court orders otherwise.
But the Inspectorate Officer Rogers Kinobe opposed Muleya's temporary release on bail on grounds that he is a non-national likely to abscond once released, has no place of residence within the jurisdiction of this Court and investigations into his case are still incomplete plus being uncooperative with the investigators.
Muleya was arrested by the Inspectorate of Government on Tuesday for disobeying orders to divulge information, contrary to section 35 (a) of the Inspectorate of Government Act, 2002.
Muleya was supposed to give the office of the IG with relevant information in regard to mismanagement of public funds, procurements and recruitment of staff at the Uganda Airlines, which he failed to do.
