Bobi Wine's body guard granted bail
Eddie Mutwe (mid) celebrates with his lawyer Assuman Basalirwa [R] shortly after being granted bail at Gulu High Court premises on Tuesday October 16. Photo by Polycap Kalokwera
What you need to know:
- The state contends that the two and others used a grader to block President Museveni's convoy in Arua Municipality on August 13.
- On October 1, the two joined the other 33 suspects on similar charges at Gulu Magistrates Court before their case was deferred to December 3 for further mention.
Edward Sebuufu alias Eddie Mutwe, the bodyguard of Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been granted bail at Gulu High Court.
This was after Eddie Mutwe and his co-accused Musa Ssenyange appeared before the court on Tuesday, presided over by Justice Stephen Mubiru for hearing of their bail application.
They were represented by lawyers; Assuman Basalirwa, Henry Kilama and Tonny Kitarra.
In their bail application, the lawyers noted that it was a constitutional right for the accused to be granted bail as enshrined in Article 23 (6) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
They also noted that the accused were tortured while in military detention, denied proper medical attention and needed to seek private medical checkups.
Prosecution led by Patrick Omiya didn’t object to the submission of the defence lawyers.
While passing his verdict, Justice Muburi concurred with the defence lawyers saying it was fit and expedient for the accused to be granted bail in the interest of justice.
Justice Mubiru granted a non-cash bail of Shs5million each to the accused and Shs10 million non-cash bail to their sureties.
The sureties
Mr Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak North legislator and Eddie Kayabula stood surety for Eddie Mutwe, while Ms Jacqueline Nakyeyune, Peter Semwanga and Salima Napande stood surety for Ssenyange.
Eddie Mutwe and Ssenyange, a driver and machine operator, were on September 11 arraigned before Gulu Grade One Magistrate, Yunus Ndiwalana, and charged with treason.
They were charged just hours after the High Court in Kampala ordered for their unconditional release because they were being held illegally following their arrest on August 25.
The state contends that the two and others used a grader to block President Museveni's convoy in Arua Municipality on August 13.
On October 1, the two joined the other 33 suspects on similar charges at Gulu Magistrates Court before their case was deferred to December 3 for further mention.
Immediately after being released from prison where he has been for 52 days, Eddie Mutwe vowed to continue ‘fighting for freedom’.
“Whatever is being done is just intimidation to stop us from attaining freedom. As a freedom fighter, I will continue from where I stopped. There are other things that the team could have been able to do without me, but I am out and will continue from there,” he said.
