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The suspects appearing before court
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded 10 out of 14 leaders of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party Katanga faction on charges of common nuisance.
Among those remanded are the Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor, Doreen Nyanjura, lawyer Wahab Musinguzi, legal assistant, Eric Wasswa, businesswomen Phiona Kabayiza and Zalikah Mutesi, hawker Gilbert Nayebare, sales agent Innocent Turyahikayo, student Beston Mutambi, and former head of FDC mobilization Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe.
The group appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi and is charged alongside FDC Secretary General Harold Kaija, former MP Roland Mugume Kaginda, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, and Kabale Municipality MP Nicholas Kamara Thadeous. While Thadeous was released on bail of 1 million shillings, the others were denied bail due to insufficient sureties.
The prosecution, led by State Attorney Ivan Kyazze, alleges that on August 5, 2024, at Katonga Road in Kampala, the group acted unlawfully by being rowdy and blocking walkways, causing public obstruction and inconvenience. Kyazze noted that inquiries are still ongoing. The accused, represented by lawyers Samuel Wanda and Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, denied the charges and requested bail, citing their roles in the FDC and the upcoming Annual Delegates Conference on August 15, 2024.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, arguing that the applicants did not meet the guidelines, as they failed to provide original IDs, adequate sureties, and consistent LC1 introduction letters. The FDC group was arrested on Monday morning while marching to the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala, protesting the arrest of 36 FDC members in Kisumu last month.
The members, detained on terrorism charges, were reportedly attending a training program when they were allegedly apprehended by Ugandan security operatives. FDC Chairman Amb. Wasswa Biriggwa, in a letter to the Kenyan High Commissioner, demanded answers and condemned the abduction, stressing the breach of trust and sovereignty.
The FDC called for immediate action from the Kenyan government to address the situation and ensure the rights of the detained leaders. The court case will return on August 7, 2024.
