Uganda: MPs Lutamaguzi, Mbogo arrested over Covid-19 rules

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:31 am

Nakaseke South Member of Parliament Paul Lugtamaguzi and 21 supporters have been on Thursday remanded to Wakyato jail after being arrested on Wednesday for allegedly violating Covid-19 guidelines.

Lutamaguzi and a section of his supporters regarded earlier than the Nakaseke Grade One Magistrate Court and have been charged with conducting an act probable to unfold the Covid-19, frequent nuisance and illegal procession. Prosecution says they committed the alleged offences on Semuto Road in Semuto Town Council in Nakaseke District, on Wednesday.

Trial Justice of the Peace Milly Nankya deferred ruling on their bail utility and remanded them till September 3. “I defer the ruling on the bail utility and are looking for for adjournment to September 3 I can’t make unfounded decision to provide bail at this cloth time. I want to ascertain the statistics on the records introduced by means of the safety officer,” Ms Nankya dominated at a tightly guarded court docket premise the place the military police saved shield duty backyard the court docket premises.

Meanwhile, Mr Richard Lule, one the legal professionals for the accused, put up a spirited defence for his clients, argued that it wasn’t normal for the Justice of the Peace to enable a stranger in the gallery who solely identified himself as a police officer to contribute to the court docket proceedings.

“I was amazed that the Justice of the Peace allowed a contribution from any person at the gallery barring swearing a court affidavit.

The magistrate made her decision to deny my customers bail basing on the allegations of an man or woman who did not elevate any file however honestly raised his hand from the gallery. This is very strange,” Mr Lule said at some point of a short interview with Saturday Monitor backyard court on Thursday.

He added: “It is additionally unfortunate that about 10 of the sureties who have been traveling from Semuto to Nakaseke Chief Magistrate Court have been arrested by using police and their respective archives taken away.

The situation at the court docket has been politicised however we shall have to abide by way of the courtroom decision.”

(DailyMonitor)