People Power supporters threaten to snub court over lack of witnesses
What you need to know:
- Prosecution alleges that on May 1, 2019 at Pearl Beach Nakiwogo, in Entebbe Municipality, Mr Sekyondo, Mr Solomon Kigongo, Ms Prossy Nakacwa, Mr Musa Matovu, Mr Samuel Kasirye and others still at large held an illegal assembly with an aim of inciting violence and destabilising peace in the area. They pleaded not guilty and were later released on bail.
Members of People Power, a pressure group led by the Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi have threatened to snub court if the magistrate fails to dismiss charges against them.
The members who are facing charges of unlawful assembly among others, accuse the state prosecutor for failing to present witness in court.
The Entebbe municipality deputy mayor Mr Richard Sekyondo and four others who are on bail appeared in Entebbe Magistrates Court on Monday to answer charges of holding an unlawful assembly contrary to section 5 and 10 of the Public order management Act.
However, the hearing of their case did not commence as it had been scheduled, because the state failed to present witnesses to pin them.
“We came to court thinking the magistrate was going to dismiss our case like she had promised last time because the state didn’t have the witnesses which prompted her to offer the state a last chance until the November 4, 2019 to trace for the witnesses if it’s interested in prosecuting the suspects. But the magistrate did not fulfil her promise and has instead given us December 2, 2019 as the last day to dismiss the case,’’ Mr Ssekyondo said.
“We have been patient since May up to date but let the magistrate make any mistake on December 2, 2019 and fails to dismiss our case, what come may, we are going to demonstrate because we are tired of wasting our time coming to court yet the prosecution has no witnesses. Whenever court gives us dates to come to court the state snubs court but this will be the last time,” Ms Prossy Nakacwa, one of the accused, said.
Ms Shamim Malende, one of the lawyers representing the suspects told journalists outside court that the state has no witnesses and therefore defence will continue pressuring prosecution side.
Prosecution alleges that on May 1, 2019 at Pearl Beach Nakiwogo, in Entebbe Municipality, Mr Sekyondo, Mr Solomon Kigongo, Ms Prossy Nakacwa, Mr Musa Matovu, Mr Samuel Kasirye and others still at large held an illegal assembly with an aim of inciting violence and destabilising peace in the area. They pleaded not guilty and were later released on bail.
