Dr Nyanzi pleads not guilty
Dr Nyanzi being led to court by police officers
Kampala- Controversial Makerere University research fellow, Dr Stella Nyanzi, has been sent to Luzira prison after she repeatedly denied allegations of using social media platforms to offend President Museveni.
In a fully packed court session that took the bigger part of yesterday afternoon, Dr Nyanzi, who has gained fame lately due to her alleged offensive postings on her social media against the first family, was charged with two related cyber-crimes.
But in her response on whether she is guilty or not of the charges brought against her as paused by the presiding magistrate, Mr James Eryeemye, Nyanzi denied the charge of cyber harassment contrary to Section 24 (1) (2) (a) of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 and the other offence of offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011.
In the first count, the State alleges that Dr Nyanzi on January 28 in Kampala used a computer to post on her Facebook page dubbed; “Stella Nyanzi” where she referred to President Museveni, as among other things, “a pair of buttocks”.
This suggestion, according to the State, is obscene or indecent.
“Your worship, I have written a lot on [my] Facebook wall. All my writings, your honour, as far as I am concerned do not tantamount to cyber harassment,” Dr Nyanzi pleaded not guilty to the first count amid cheers from her fans.
Equally, Dr Nyanzi pleaded not guilty to the second count of offensive communication.
“Who is offended in this matter? How long are Ugandans going to be silent because they are going to fear accusations of offence? He [President Museveni] makes promises of sanitary pads for girls and he goes against the promise? It’s honourable men who fulfil promises,” she charged.
She continued: “Yoweri Museveni is dishonourable. This regime has offended this country and I am happy to take on the mantle of insanity. I am happy to take on the mantle of a true Stella if this mantle is going to be the only time that the regime will be told about its offence to the people of Uganda.”
Prior to the reading of the charges to Dr Nyanzi, the prosecution led by Mr Jonathan Muwaganya, made an application to court seeking to ascertain the mental status of the outspoken research fellow.
Mr Muwaganya explained that the investigating officer has reasonable grounds to believe that Dr Nyanzi is of unsound mind.
“It is noted in the affidavit of the investigations officer that during the detention of the suspect (Dr Nyanzi) at Kira Police Station, he keenly observed the behaviour of the suspect which had periodic erratic episodes and related unusual behaviour of gross utterances,” Mr Muwaganya submitted.
The State prosecutor further informed court that once court receives such a request, it may order for an inquiry into the suspect’s state of mind within 14 days while the suspect is in temporary detention.
But before the magistrate could pronounce his decision on whether to send Dr Nyanzi for mental examination, the defence team comprising Mr Nicholas Opiyo, Mr Isaac Ssemakadde, Mr Eron Kizza and Mr Julius Galisonga informed court that their counterparts had ambushed them.
To that effect, they prayed to court for more time to enable them respond to the claims raised by the state.
Court concurred with the submissions of the defence team and adjourned the matter to April 25.
Earlier in the day, a group of Opposition Forum for Democratic Change members led by Dr Kizza Besigye, were denied access to Dr Nyanzi at Kira Divisional Police headquarters where she spent the weekend after her arrest last Friday.
