American charged over illegal assembly
Solidarity Uganda’s Phil Wilmot. PHOTO BY Bill Oketch
What you need to know:
Defied. Mr Phil Wilmot acted contrary to the regulations of the Public Order Management Act.
Lira. An American was yesterday charged in Lira Magistrate’s court with holding an illegal public meeting contrary to provisions of the Public Order Management Act. Mr Phil Wilmot, 24, a resident of Ireda in Lira municipality, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Grace Richard Ssemaganda on Tuesday.
Mr Wilmot is the founder of Solidarity Uganda, a human rights and peace organisation.
Prosecution states that on December 6, 2014, Mr Wilmot and others still at large, without notifying the Inspector General of Police, organised a public meeting at Upcountry Guest House in Lira municipality, where they allegedly recruited people into activism.
The offence is contrary to section 5(1) and (8) of the Public Order Management Act of 2013.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to Lira Main Prison Court ordered the State to avail the accused a copy of the charge sheet after Mr Wilmot demanded to be furnished with information regarding his prosecution. He was released on cash bail of Shs2m. His sureties Mr Nicholas Opiyo and Mr Raymond Olung were both given a non-cash bond of Shs5 million each. He returns on March 24, for further hearing of his case.
