The exhibits were initially opposed by Nyanzi’s lawyers, Isaac Ssemakadde and Derrick Bazekuketta on grounds that they were disclosed to them after the completion of the investigations as directed by on November, 9th, 2018.
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Dr Stella Nyanzi at Buganda Road Court . File Photo
Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court has finally
allowed the state to table additional exhibits in the case of cyber harassment
and offensive communication against former Makerere University Research Fellow,
Dr. Stella Nyanzi.
The Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate, Gladys
Kamasanyu made the ruling on Tuesday afternoon paving way for detective Bill Ndyamuhaki
to tender in eight exhibits in the case where Dr. Nyanzi is accused of authoring an offensive birthday Poem dedicated to President Yoweri Museveni.
The exhibits were initially opposed by Nyanzi’s lawyers,
Isaac Ssemakadde and Derrick Bazekuketta on grounds that they were disclosed to
them after the completion of the investigations as directed by on November,
9th, 2018.
The exhibits include Activation codes used to create Nyanzi’s
Facebook account, documents showing the number that activated the Facebook
account and a photocopy of the passport Nyanzi reportedly used to apply for the
MTN phone number that she used to create the Facebook page.
The others include Nyanzi’s bio
data forms obtained from Makerere University Vice Chancellor and Human Resource
Manager, two court orders issued by Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Miriam Akello
in December 2018 and April 2019 that were served to MTN Uganda and Makerere
University requesting for the information tendered before court.
Earlier on, Nyanzi’s lawyers argued that the
evidence should be rejected because it was served to them in 2019 yet
investigations ended in 2018. The lawyers also argued that the
Prosecution went and secured court orders to get the evidence in contention
from another magistrate instead of the one handling the matter.
However, in her ruling, Kamasanyu said prosecution
didn’t have enough time to do its investigations and since they got orders from
a gazetted court of Judicature there was nothing wrong with their evidence.
Kamasanyu allowed the documents and marked them as official court exhibits.
She adjourned the matter to April 23rd, 2019 for cross
examination of Ndyamuhaki. Trouble for Dr. Nyanzi started
on September, 16th, 2018 when she allegedly posted a
loutish birthday poem on her Facebook page attacking Esteri Kokundeka, the late Mother of President, Yoweri
Museveni wishing that the later died at birth.
Nyanzi has since refused to apply for bail and has been in
Luzira since November, 2018.
Kukunda Judith
Petronilla Nalubega
Freelancer