Politician charged with holding unlawful assembly

Mr Ongulu (R) and Mr Odur (C) at Lira Magistrate’s Court after being granted bail on Wednesday. Photo by Hudson Apunyo

What you need to know:

During the arrest of Mr Odur, a UPC member, who has expressed interest in contesting for the Erute South parliamentary seat, and Mr Ongulu near the Lira Magistrate’s Court, police fired tear gas and disrupted court proceedings.

LIRA- The Lira Grade One Magistrate’s Court has charged opposition politician Jonathan Odur and his relative David Ongulu, who were arrested by police on Tuesday, with holding an unlawful assembly and disobedience of lawful orders.

The two suspects appeared before Grade One Magistrate Naume Sikoya on Wednesday and denied the charges. They were released on a non-cash bail of Shs2 million. Their sureties were committed to a non-cash bond of Shs2 million each. They are expected to reappear before the court on April 1 for hearing of their case. Prosecution said investigation were complete.

During the arrest of Mr Odur, a UPC member, who has expressed interest in contesting for the Erute South parliamentary seat, and Mr Ongulu near the Lira Magistrate’s Court, police fired tear gas and disrupted court proceedings.

Magistrate Muhamadi Kasakye abandoned court proceedings and sought refuge in the nearby office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“I did not know where it came from, I had to run away to the DPP office,” he said.
The magistrate said he saw people running and coughing while others were crying.
“Everybody was suffocating and we had to close business,” he said.