Besigye’s lawyer asks court to protect clients
Defiant: Opposition politician Kizza Besigye talks to police officers at Mbarara Magistrate’s Court yesterday. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA
What you need to know:
- Request. The Defence lawyer asked court to protect her clients from the State security agents’ harassment after the case was adjourned, citing a previous incident.
- "We pray that you warn the State on the kidnap of our clients. The other time when three of them were granted bail, they were kidnapped from court premises, they were tortured and two were driven to Kasangati where as one was driven to unknown destination,’’ Lydia Ahimibisibwe, defence lawyer
Mbarara. The lawyer representing former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, and four others in an assault case in Mbarara Magistrate’s Court has called for protection of her clients from what she called “kidnap” in the court premises.
Dr Besigye, Forum for Democratic Change party (FDC) president Patrick Amuriat Oboi, Fred Kato (Besigye’s driver), Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa and FDC secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe were on November 16, 2017 charged before the Mbarara Grade One Magistrate Court.
They were charged with assault of police officers, inciting violence, and malicious damage to police vehicles.
Prosecution alleges that the Opposition politicians committed the offences on November 14 while in Mbarara Town. They denied the offences then and were granted bail.
Yesterday, they returned to court for mention of their case but the proceedings flopped because the presiding magistrate, Ms Sanyu Mukasa, is on leave.
Ms Daphine Ayebale, who presided over yesterday’s session adjourned the case to March 6, when the trial magistrate will have returned.
However, their lawyer, Ms Lydia Ahimibisibwe, asked court to protect her clients from the State security agents’ harassment saying the way they were re-arrested, bundled into police caged vans and driven away from the court premises immediately after securing bail on November 16 last year was an act of “kidnap”.
However, the State Prosecutor, Ms Carol Keshubi, said they are not aware of the kidnapping.
Ms Ayebare ,who declined to take the defence lawyer’s complaint on court record, called for respect of court orders.
“As you are aware that the trial magistrate is on official leave. I am adjourning the case to March 6. ... All court orders have to be adhered to. I will not commit myself on allegations which do not have proof,” Ms Ayebare said.
Earlier before the court session, Dr Besigye and his co-accused arrival at court attracted crowds of people chanting in their support, an action that prompted police to block the entrance for the followers.
Dr Besigye later addressed his supporters at Mailo Two on Mbarara-Masaka road.
