After over two weeks on remand at Luzira Maximum Prison, political giant Kiiza Besigye can now return home on bail.

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has on Friday handed bail to opposition bigwig Dr. Kizza Besigye and Samuel Lubega Walter Mukaaku. 

Besigye and Mukaaku through their lawyers led by Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, Ivan Bwowe, and Ernest Kalibala applied for bail in the High Court after the Buganda Road Magistrates Court declined.

The duo re-applied for bail at Buganda Road Magistrates Court, following a high court ruling on Thursday ,dismissing bail and directing them to return to a lower Court.

High Court Judge Justice Tadeo Asiimwe stated that the bail application was premature and incompetent considering that the applicants had not filed a fresh application before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate or the Chief Magistrates Court. He stated that once denied bail, the accused should have applied to the Chief Magistrate instead.

However, appearing in Court on Friday, both Mukaaku and Besigye were each granted a cash bail of 2.5 Million Shillings while their four sureties were each granted a non-cash bond of 500,000 shillings. 

The Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Dr. Douglas Singiza stated that both Besigye and Mukaaku presented substantial sureties and he is convinced that the accused persons will not run out of the country.

Besigye presented Kampala Capital City Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura and Kitgum Municipality Member of Parliament Denis Onekalit as his sureties while Mukaaku presented the Forum for Democratic Change Party Deputy Secretary-General Harlod Kaija and former Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament Roland Mugume. 

The case was adjourned to July 29 2022 for mention before the Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza.

The duo was arrested following  a protest held along Nakivubo Lane in Shauriyako Parish in Kampala City over skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

They were  thrown to Luzira Maximum Prison for inciting violence.

It is alleged that on June 14th, 2022 in Kikuubo, Shauriyako parish, Kampala city, Besigye and Mukaku without lawful excuse made statements indicating that it would be desirable to demonstrate, which could cause violence and damage to property.