After spending close to three months in Luzira Maximum Security prison, former NSSF managing director David Chandi Jamwa yesterday got a lease of life outside prison after court released him on a cash bail of Shs10 million.
Court of Appeal Justice Augustine Nshimye, who granted him bail, was in harmony with the submissions made by Jamwa’s lawyer, David Mpanga, on Thursday who among others told court that his client is a first offender who would not abscond court as he had done during trial.
In his ruling, Justice Nshimye said: “I have no doubt that the applicant (Jamwa) if released on bail will not be tempted to abscond but remain around to pursue his appeal to the end”.
Dressed in a black suit without a tie, Jamwa bowed his head, amid foot stamping by relatives and friends as the Registrar of Court of Appeal read the ruling on behalf of Justice Nshimye.
In March this year, the Anti-Corruption Court found Jamwa guilty of causing a financial loss of Shs3 billion to the Fund and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He was also barred from working with public service for 10 years after serving the sentence.The judge acquitted him of the other charge of abuse of office, which the IGG has appealed against.
However, there was drama in court as what was expected to be joyous moment for his parents and friends instead turned into a battle ground as his parents roughed up journalists who thronged the Appeal Court.
Moments before the ruling could be delivered, Jamwa’s mother, Tezera Jamwa, pushed a Radio Simba journalist Christine Nabatanzi, who staggered and nearly lost her balance because she had sat near her.
“Don’t sit near me,” a charged Tezera told the journalist.