Drama as Lukwago fights to stop suspect’s guilty plea

Drama ensued in the Standards Utilities and Wildlife courtroom as the proprietor of Bajjo Events and Marketing Agency Limited was taking plea on charges in connection with disturbing the peace of President Museveni.
Mr Andrew Mukasa, alias Bajjo, appeared in the 5pm session presided over by Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis, who read to him two charges, which included incitement of violence and offensive communication.
As the trial magistrate he was reading the charges in English, the court clerk was interpreting them in Luganda, a language the accused said was comfortable with.
Upon listening to the first count, Mr Bajjo denied it, however, when the second count was read to him, he was quick to say ‘yes’, which caused panic among his sympathisers in the audience. The audience murmured with the crowds uncontrollably beseeching him [Bajjo] to change his plea, as others were overheard lamenting that he had condemned himself.
It took the effort of his lawyer, who doubles as Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, to hastily object to Bajjo’s plea of guilty asserting that the ‘yes’ to taking the plea is against his advice.

Lukwago’s argument
Mr Lukwago pleaded with the magistrate to drop the plea of guilty and submitted that his client had not understood the second count well, so he needed a better interpreter for the charges to be translated to Luganda.
He later moved close to the dock where his client was and whispered to the suspect.
Ms Amabilis weighed in and cautioned Mr Lukwago that his presence at the bar calls for him to advise his client but not to tell them what to plea.
She [Amabilis] later adjourned the matter for 10 minutes to another Luganda interpreter.
However, when she returned, she informed court that she had failed to find a better interpreter.
She opted to remand the accused to Luzira prison until June 25.

Prosecution

Prosecution contends that Mr Bajjo during the month of June, 2019 at various places of Masaka, Mbarara,Ibanda and Kampala, incited the public to do an act of violence against the person of the President.
On the count of offensive communication, the State contends that in June, at various places of Masaka, Mbarara, Ibanda and Kampala, Mr Bajjo with intent to disturb peace and privacy of the President, he wilfully and repeatedly recorded a video which he posted on social media containing inciting messages.
The State asserts that Mr Bajjo allegedly used his mobile phone to record these messages claiming that he was to overthrow the government of Uganda before 2021.
The arrest
Last Saturday, security officers dragged Mr Bajjo from a press conference at Centenary Park into a waiting van.
At the time of his arrest Mr Banjo was jointly addressing a press conference with Mr Abbey Musinguzi, alias, Abitex, the proprietor of Abitex Promotions, to announce a People Power marathon, aimed at raising money for Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias, Bobi Wine.