Mbale City, Uganda — Steven Masiga, the spokesperson of the Bugisu cultural institution, has said that over 100 clan chairmen and executive members are set to meet President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni over the imprisonment of Hon. Agnes Nandutu, seeking her pardon.
Masiga told The Ankole Times that Hon. Nandutu made an emotional mitigation in court, which, in his view, the judge should have considered before sentencing her.
He quoted her as telling court that she is a single mother of over seven children below the age of 15, all under her custody. He also noted that she reported suffering from severe diabetes, while her mother is also seriously ill. Nandutu reportedly informed the Anti-Corruption Court that she had voluntarily reported herself and appealed for mercy, requesting a non-custodial sentence as a white-collar offender.
“As a cultural institution, we request the President to demonstrate leniency to his cabinet minister, and that is the prayer of the Bamasaba clan chairmen and the wider Bamasaba community,” Masiga said.
He added that, in their analysis, Hon. Nandutu had demonstrated sufficient remorse, made efforts to repair the loss by paying back, and accepted responsibility for her actions. He cited the legal maxim that it is better to acquit many guilty persons than to convict one innocent person, arguing that pardoning Hon. Nandutu would not undermine criminal justice principles since she has already been convicted.
Masiga further argued that the court appeared to depart from the spirit of the law, particularly regarding the fine imposed, which he described as paltry but nevertheless lawful. He emphasized that the cultural institution is promoting alternative justice approaches, including mediation, even in criminal matters, noting that plea bargaining is recognised under criminal law.
He said Hon. Nandutu’s imprisonment has sent shockwaves across Uganda, with mixed reactions emerging on social media platforms such as TikTok, where many users are calling for her release due to her public profile.
Recently, during a clan meeting in Manafwa attended by over 100 clan chairmen and presided over by Umukuka Jude Mike Mudoma as chief guest, the cultural leader reportedly pledged to engage President Museveni over the matter.
Masiga confirmed that the Bugisu cultural institution will formally petition the President on the issue, describing it as a matter affecting one of their own legislators currently serving a sentence in Luzira Prison over corruption-related charges.
“While we do not condone criminality as a cultural institution, on the issue of Hon. Nandutu, I am already in touch with the powers that be,” the Umukuka reportedly told clan leaders in Manafwa, adding that he would personally seek an audience with the President.
Masiga said the role of the cultural institution is to engage government on issues affecting the Bugisu people, and the pardon of Hon. Nandutu is one such matter.
The President has constitutional powers under Article 121 of the Constitution to pardon convicted persons, acting on the advice of the Advisory Committee chaired by the Attorney General. The Anti-Corruption Court recently convicted Hon. Nandutu on charges related to abuse of office and mismanagement of public resources.
