Buganda Road Magistrates Court has remanded opposition giant Dr. Kizza Besigye to jail at Luzira on fresh charges of inciting violence.
Besigye and the former Rubaga South Constituency Parliamentary Candidate Samuel Lubega Mukaku, appeared before the Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza on Wednesday at 6pm where they pleaded not guilty to the charges read against him.
The duo was consequently remanded to Luzira Maximum Prison after their bail application hit a snag, because of time factor.
The Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza set Friday June 18th, 2022 as the date when they can apply for bail.
This however, did not rub well for the lawyers to the accused and dozens of supporters who gathered at court.
Besgye’s lawyer Erias Lukwago, wondered why the court chose to present the suspects at an awkward hour knowing too well they couldn’t be granted bail.
Lukwago then threatened to petition the Judicial Service Commission over the Grade one Magistrate, Muhumuza’s conduct which he has described as abuse of office.
In the meantime, Besigye’s fuming supporters started chanting loudly at the court chambers “Asuman Shame on You, Shame on You”, accusing the Magistrate of deliberately refusing to grant the suspects bail.
Security officers present at court grabbed five protesters who have since been arrested.
Besigye and his co accused were netted by police and military on Tuesday this week after they made their way to downtown Kampala to protest high commodity prices
The duo also protested the National budget reading for the 2022/2023 FY at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Besigye entered the crowded streets downtown with mega phones preaching against skyrocketing prices. He stated to gathering crowds cheering him that the budget reading for the 2022/2023 financial year does not hold any water because the monies will be misused.
The new (financial) year is here, we should not fund Museveni,” Besigye said.
The duo was first detained at Kampala Central Police Station but later transferred to Nagalama Police Station in Mukono District on Tuesday.
The Court has heard that on June 14th, 2022 at Kikuubo in Shauriyako Parish in 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.
On May 24th 2022, he was charged over the same charges by Grade One Magistrate Siena Owomugisha who asked him to pay bail of 30 million shillings cash which was later reduced to 3 million shillings by the High Court .
