By Ruth Anderah
The Court of Appeal is this morning expected to determine whether or not to release on bail the 3 jailed Ministry of Public Service officers including former Permanent Secretary Jimmy Lwamafa, Principle Accountant Christopher Obeyi and Director Pensions and Compensations Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa.
On March 27 2017, Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma held a session and presided over hearing of these bail applications but reserved his ruling on notice.
The 3 officials are serving jail terms of 7, 10 and 5 years respectively at Luzira prison having been found guilty by the Anti-Corruption Court of stealing Shs 88 billion which they falsely accounted for as NSSF contributions for public servants.
However the officials have since challenged their conviction and sentences handed to them by judge Lawrence Gidudu in November last year.
Lwamafa and Kunsa specifically contend in their bail applications that they are of advanced ages, have severe ailments, have permanent residences and that their release on bail does not cause any threat to community since the offenses for which they were convicted do not involve personal violence.
But the Director Public Prosecution Michael Chibita strongly opposed their bail applications on grounds that the 3 officials were convicted of serious economic crimes involving colossal sums of money.
