he High Court Criminal Division has thrown out a bail application filed by Dr. Kizza Besigye and Samuel Lubega Mukaaku,.
High Court Judge Justice Tadeo Asiimwe on Thursday denied the accused bail because their application was premature.
Justice Tadeo also directed that the applicants file a fresh application before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate or the Chief Magistrates Court.
This development comes just as Besigye and Mukaaku failed to get bail at the Buganda Road Magistrates Court. Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza denied the duo bail on June 15 on grounds that they would repeat inciting violence in the public.
Muhumuza stated that it had been less than two weeks since the duo was granted bail on similar charges of inciting violence.
Mukaaku and Besigye presented substantial sureties in court including; Kampala Capital City Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, former Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament Roland Mugume, and Besigye’s partner Engineer Winnie Byanyima as Besigye’s sureties.
Mukaaku’s sureties were Buikwe South MP Dr. Lulume Bayiga, Kitgum Municipality MP Denis Onekalit, and former Mbale District Woman MP Aspirant Margaret Wokuri Madanda.
The State Attorney Isaiah Wanamama had asked the Court to dismiss the application and send it back to the lower Court. He stated that the application was filed prematurely before the High Court because the laws governing the Magistrates Court indicate that should one be denied bail, one can apply to the Chief Magistrate as the supervisor of the Magistrates Court.
Wanamama said if the High Court grants Mukaaku and Besigye bail, it will be the first case in their records to have succeeded after skipping the Chief Magistrates Court.
Mukaaku and Besigye were further remanded to Luzira Prison.
The duo was arrested following a protest held along Nakivubo Lane in Shauriyako Parish in Kampala City over skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
