On Thursday evening, the National Assembly approved a request from the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation to open legal proceedings against Mutamba, following hours of heated debate.
The decision was reached following mounting allegations that the minister authorised an irregular $19 million advance payment for the construction of a new prison in Kisangani, Tshopo Province.
The payment, reportedly issued under a single-source procurement deal, was made before the contract had received formal approval from the relevant authorities, raising concerns of procedural violations and possible embezzlement.
The case involves a total of $39 million allocated for the prison project. Parliamentary sources say the investigation seeks to determine whether Minister Mutamba abused his position by directing funds to an unapproved contractor.
The parliamentary commission in charge of the case had earlier urged the full assembly to authorise legal action, describing the allegations as "extremely serious" under Congolese law and calling for accountability.
"The charges against the Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals are of a gravity that demands legal consequences," the commission noted in its report.
With his immunity lifted, Mutamba is now expected to appear before prosecutors in the coming days. The development marks a rare move against a high-ranking official and highlights the growing scrutiny over the management of public funds in President Félix Tshisekedi's administration.
Mutamba has previously defended himself against the accusations, claiming he is being targeted for his efforts to root out corruption within the justice sector.
Nonetheless, the case adds to the broader debate around transparency and governance in the DRC, a country long plagued by allegations of financial mismanagement and weak institutional oversight.
If found guilty, the justice minister could face significant legal penalties and be forced to step down.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
