I won’t go back to Kabale court, says Besigye

Left to right: Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa, Kampala Lord Mayor Mr Erias Lukwago and former FDC president Kizza Besigye at Kabale Chief Magistrates Court. File photo

Kabale- Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, has vowed not to return to Kabale Chief Magistrates Court where he is facing charges of inciting violence.

Dr Besigye, who is jointly charged with Kampala Lord Mayor Mr Erias Lukwago, Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume Kaginda, FDC Secretary for Mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe, and Democratic Party vice president for western region Imam Makumbi and Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa, has been appearing at the court for four years without a conclusion of the case.

“I and my colleagues have jointly resolved never to turn up to this court for hearing of this case because the case seems to be a joke. We shall give our lawyers the necessary information to this court to proceed without our presence because it is accepted by law,” Dr Besigye said.

“We have been coming to this court for the last five years, have never been accused of anything like Imama Makumbi, nothing has ever been raised against him despite being on the same charge. This is just a joke and we shall allow them with their joke until they decide what they want,” he added.

He made the remarks on Friday after the court session in which Kabale Chief Magistrate Samuel Kagoda Ntende had adjourned the case to March 6 for further hearing after the State prosecution said they wanted to bring more witnesses.

“The last time we were here in this court in November last year, court made it clear that this would be the last day for the prosecution to complete their case. They are now giving excuses that the witnesses they wanted to bring to this court are out of the country and yet there is no evidence that they summoned them.”

“It is a joke for the prosecution and it is very sad that the magistrate has allowed his court to be used to subvert justice. Coming to this court is expensive as I had to fly from Ghana to attend this court,” Dr Besigye added.

State prosecution led by Gloria Inzikuru presented Mr Benon Ayebare a police officer formerly attached to the police’s Special Investigations Unit who testified as he also presented a recording as evidence that the accused persons committed the offence. Ms Inzikuru prayed for the last adjournment saying that she has extra two witnesses to present to court.

The case arose from an incident in July, 2012 in which a police officer was injured.