In his testimony, Agaba has told Court that he searched the accused persons and their car registration number UAK 733F where he recovered a megaphone and placards with different writings.
The Hearing of the case in
which opposition politicians Dr Kizza Besigye and Walter Lubega Mukaaku are
accused of inciting violence resumed at Buganda Road Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Trouble for Besigye and Mukaaku stems from
their June 14th, 2022 protest against the skyrocketing
prices of commodities in the country.
The Prosecution alleges that on June , 14th 2022.Dr.Besigye and Mukaaku allegedly staged an assembly at Kikuubo Shauriyako in Kampala
where they are to have made statements indicating that it would be desirable to
demonstrate which the prosecution said was an act calculated to cause damage and destruction to
property.
The trial resumed with two police officers including former
officer in charge Central Police Station -CPS Detective Godwin Agaba after the last witness was produced in October
2022 .
The trial Magistrate Grade one, Winnie Nankya Jatiko had in
the last session in January 2024 threatened to close the prosecution case after
the accused person’s lawyers led by Erias Lukwago asked for dismissal of
charges citing delayed trial.
They told
Court that they were being persecuted and no evidence that the prosecution had
summoned its witnesses.
The DPP was directed to
summon its witnesses or the case would be closed. Prosecution led by State Attorney, Ivan Kyazze been presented more witnesses in the case.
Agaba told Court that he searched
the accused persons and their car registration number UAK 733F where he
recovered a megaphone and placards with different writings.
Agaba said that on 14 June 2022, he was attached to CPS
Kampala as a Division Region CID boss when both Besigye and Mukaaku were
arrested from down town and taken to CPS Kampala. Agaba testified that the recovered placards contained words
like Transition Now, No
succession, time up out, Twegatte Tulumbe among
others which prosecution says were meant to incite violence.
The said megaphone and placards were displayed and
tendered in court as prosecution exhibits.
However in cross examination by Dr Besigye's lawyer Erias
Lukwago, Agaba could not confirm whether the placards and megaphone belonged to
Dr Kizza Besigye and Mukaaku.
The witnesses also failed to ably explain how the
message on the placards disrupted the peace and caused destruction of property
in down town.
The hearing has been pushed to March 15th 2024.
Both Dr Besigye and his lawyer Erias Lukwago told
journalists after court that the case was intended to torture police officers
whom are reportedly being forced to testify.
//Cue in: “Oleeta abasajja nobafula…
Cue out: …tetujakukivako”.//
Prior to the stalling of the case in 2022 , witnesses who testified mainly Police Officers
such as David Nahamya the head of Operations at Kampala Central
Police Station said Besigye and Mukaaku’s actions caused commotion
down town and business went on standstill.
In October 2022, Magistrate Muhumuza ordered the State to return Besigye’s vehicle which
had been impounded. The vehicle is yet to be released
to Besigye.
In June 2023, the same court presided over by Grade One Magistrate
Siena Owomugisha dismissed similar charges against Besigye for want of
Prosecution and set him free.
