ENTEBBE Grade II Magistrate Godfrey Bindeba, charged with receiving a bribe of sh200,000 from a suspect, has been granted bail. Bindeba was granted bail of sh500,000 on Tuesday after he presented two substantial sureties to court.
His sureties, Dr. Agaba Byamukama and Peter Katuramu, paid a non-cash bond of sh10m. Justice Paul Mugaba directed Bindeba to report to the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court every Tuesday of the month.
Bindeba faces two counts of soliciting sh1m and receiving sh200,000 from Felix Kintu, a suspect. Bindeba was charged at the Buganda Road court last month and remanded to Luzira Prison.
The prosecution stated that Bindeba, on February 4 at Kisozi Complex in Kampala, asked for sh1m from Kintu with an offer to dismiss a forgery case against him.
The charge sheet does not indicate what Kintu allegedly forged. In the second count, Bindeba allegedly received sh200,000 as an inducement from Kintu on February 9 at Pride Gardens in Rubaga, a city suburb.
Section (2) and (26) (1) of Anti-Corruption Act states that any person found guilty of abuse of office is liable to 10 years imprisonment.
Bindeba becomes the second judicial officer to be implicated in bribing.
Moses Ndifuna, formerly attached to Mbarara Chief Magistrate’s Court, was recently convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for receiving a bribe of sh200,000.
