The trial of three opposition politicians accused of inciting violence failed to take off on Monday morning before the Kabale chief magistrate’s court after only one of the suspects turned up. They are Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC women league chairperson, Elias Lukwago, the Kampala Lord Mayor and Kawempe division mayor Mubarak Munyagwa. The suspects were expected to appear on Monday morning for the hearing of their case.
However, only Mubarak Munyagwa, the Kawempe Division Mayor showed up accompanied by Imam Makumbi, the Democratic Party chairperson in charge of Western Uganda and his Lawyer Wilfred Mulumba of Mulumba and Company Advocates. Mulumba told court presided over by Amos Kwizera, the Kabale chief magistrate that Ingrid Turinawe couldn’t appear because she had lost an aunt while Elias Lukwago, the Kampala Lord Mayor was scheduled to appear before the tribunal hearing a censure petition against him filed by some city councilors.
Kwizera decided to adjourn the case up to 9th September 2013 when the activists will reappear in court. Unlike on 8th of July 2013, when the politicians were charged only a few people turned up at the court amidst heavy police deployment around Makanga hill and along the roads that lead to Kabale chief Magistrates court. Shortly after appearing before the Magistrate, Mubarak Munyagwa told journalists that, the decision by government to slap them with tramped up charges was aimed at instilling fear amongst Ugandans.
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Bosco Arop, the Kabale district Police commander told URN that they deployed to ensure the activists do not cause confusion in Kabale town. Details on the charge sheet are that, on 14th July 2012 while at a rally at Kabale municipal stadium, the trio incited the public to pelt cops with stones leading to the destruction of police vehicles and the injuring four cops.
Anthony Kushaba
Guest