Bufumbira South MP Sam Bitangaro has Monday been released on bail after spending days in Luzira prison obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to defraud government Shs3bn.

Bitangaro and his co-accused William Tumwine, a director in the ministry of gender and his wife Stella Kakuba as well as lawyer Francis Owor Onyango returned to court for the hearing of their case.

The four, pleaded not guilty on all counts and were granted a Shs7m cash and Shs200m non-cash bail by the Makindye Chief Magistrate, Prossy Katushabe.

They are to re-appear before the same court on 12th February, 2020.

Last week, the former minister was remanded to Luzira prison for obtaining Shs3bn from Kiboga Twegatte cooperative society limited to avail them land in Mityana district for resettlement after they were evicted from Luwunga Central government reserve in Kiboga district.

The money was provided by the government through the National Forest Authority on the directive of President Yoweri Museveni.

They were later arrested in an operation by State House Anticorruption Unit and produced Thursday before Anti-Corruption Unit.

Grade II magistrate John Okiipi remanded them until January 6, 2020 to appear before a chief magistrates’ court.

The land in question is being disputed between city tycoon Abid Alam and some residents of Kassanda district.

In August 2019, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit said they were probing the purchase of the land at a cost of sh1.3b for the people who were evicted from Kiboga.

The land was purchased by Kiboga Twegatte Co-operative Society.

But it was later discovered that the same land is claimed by Abid Alam.edge