Besigye, Lukwago arrested over poll reforms meet

KAMPALA.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and former FDC boss Dr Kizza Besigye were on Thursday charged before courts of law for allegedly disobeying lawful orders issued to them by police not to hold a meeting at Nsambya Youth Sharing Hall to discuss electoral reforms.

The duo voluntarily appeared before Makindye Chief Magistrates Court and denied the charges slapped against them by the state from the new Public Order Management Act 2014.

The opposition political activists were responding to criminal summons issued to them last Wednesday by the court.

They were jointly charged with two others who included Besigye’s driver Fred Kato and his aide Jethro Nuwagaba.

Presiding Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu Musenze, released the four suspects on a non cash bail of Shs2 million and each of their nine sureties was bonded at a noncash of Shs1 million.

While releasing the suspects, the magistrate hailed them for being lawful citizens who voluntarily brought themselves to court and also that they had substantial sureties.

Some of their sureties included: Kawempe Division Mayor, Mubaraka Munyangwa, Makindye KCCA councilor, Allan Ssewanyana and Rubaga North MP, Moses Kasibante.

Court ordered the suspects to return to court on July 6 when the hearing of the case will start as investigations into the matter are complete.

Prosecution led by Ms Christine Byamugisha, alleged that the suspects on May 14, this year at Nsambya Youth Sharing Hall, disobeyed the lawful orders of police officer Siraje Bakaleke, the Kampala South Metropolitan commander when he instructed them to disperse from the meeting venue.

Their being charged comes two weeks after a group of ten youths were charged with being a common public nuisance at City Hall Court over the same Nsambya meeting. But one wonders why the other group was charged before City Hall Court with a different charge and Besigye’s also is charged with another