The Anti-Corruption Court has granted bail to Matthew Bagonza, Head of Secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), who is facing charges of money laundering and abuse of office.
Under the bail terms, Bagonza is required to deposit Shs20 million in cash and present sureties bonded at Shs30 million each.
The court has also ordered him to surrender his passport as part of the conditions governing his release on bail.Bagonza’s bail comes as he faces allegations relating to the transfer of approximately Shs171.7 million from a bank account linked to PACEID to his personal account.
The alleged transactions are said to have taken place between 2023 and 2026. The prosecution alleges that the transfers involved funds associated with the committee, raising questions about the management and use of money linked to the government initiative.
However, the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.Bagonza is also accused of irregularly incorporating a private company whose objectives allegedly resemble those of PACEID while he was serving under the Office of the President.
The company-related allegation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest involving a public official operating within an institution established to support exports and industrial development.
The specific circumstances surrounding the company’s incorporation and its alleged relationship with PACEID are expected to be addressed through the judicial process.
PACEID operates under the Office of the President and is associated with efforts to promote Uganda’s exports and industrial development. Its mandate places it within the broader government agenda of supporting economic growth, improving access to markets and strengthening the country’s export capacity.
The allegations against Bagonza therefore concern both the handling of funds linked to the committee and his alleged involvement in establishing a private business with objectives similar to those of the institution he served. The court’s decision to grant bail allows Bagonza to remain out of custody while his case proceeds, subject to compliance with the conditions imposed.
Bail does not amount to an acquittal or a determination of guilt.The requirement to surrender his passport is among the restrictions imposed by the court as part of his release conditions. The financial obligations involving the cash deposit and sureties also form part of the terms he must satisfy.
The prosecution will be required to prove the charges against Bagonza in court, while he is entitled to defend himself against the allegations.Further details about the next court appearance, the prosecution’s evidence and Bagonza’s response to the charges were not immediately available in the information provided.
