Dr Nyanzi remanded to Luzira again

KAMPALA. Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded the Makerere University research fellow, Dr Stella Nyanzi, to Luzira prison on charges in connection to harassing President Museveni when she allegedly insulted his late mother on her Facebook page.
Dr Nyanzi is charged with two counts; cyber harassment and offensive communication.

In a session presided over by Ms Esther Nahirya, before the court clerk could read the charges to the accused, she (Nahirya) told her (Nyanzi) that the magistrate responsible for her case is indisposed so she will return for plea taking.
“Dr Nyanzi, the charges against you are brought under the Standards Utilities and wildlife Court, so you will take plea on November 9 before the trial magistrate,” Ms Nahirya said.

Before the court clerk could finish reading the first count, Dr Nyanzi interrupted him asserting that she needed the charges to be read slowly and translated into Luganda for her proper comprehension.
Ms Nahirya yielded to the accused’s request and assigned the clerk to translate the charges.

However, as the clerk read them, Dr Nyanzi kept interrupting him, alleging that she is uncomfortable with his translations.
“Your worship, I have been incarcerated for five days without a charge sheet. I have written a lot about Yoweri Museveni and I have written a lot about vaginas, but I have never written about [Esteri] Kokundeka. So I need these words on the charge sheet to be given their proper translation for my proper understanding,” Dr Nyanzi said.

Prosecution contends that on September 16, Dr Nyanzi posted on her Facebook page suggestions deemed obscene against the President’s deceased mother Kokundeka.
It is stated that she also repeatedly posted messages to disturb or attempted to disturb the peace, quiet or right to privacy of the President.

Meanwhile, Dr Nyanzi has dragged Makerere to High Court’s Civil Division for refusing to reinstate and promote her.
In her plaint, Dr Nyanzi says on two occasions, the university’s staff tribunal has lifted her suspension and ordered that she be re-instated, promoted and paid her accumulated emoluments, something she claims the university has ignored.
Dr Nyanzi says she needs her job back because she has to take care of her children as well as paying her legal representatives.

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  The Kyadondo East MP said her detention is illegal and that it has become a norm for police to hold suspects beyond the mandatory 48 hours without taking them to court

• Stella Nyanzi arrested for insulting Museveni’s mother

  

  Dr Nyanzi was arrested at Makerere University on Friday and driven to Special Investigations Division headquarters at Kireka where she is currently detained