Sebaggala Did Not Incite Taxpayers, Says Witness

By Hillary Kiirya THE fourth State witness in the trial of Hajji Nasser Sebaggala, yesterday told court that the former mayor did not talk about abolishing graduated tax as stated by other witnesses. Abdalah Ntawana, a Police detective, said Sebaggala while at a rally, thanked those who had paid tax and called upon those who had not paid to wait after the elections are over, saying Besigye had promised to scrap it. Sebaggala is accused of inciting people against paying graduated tax. He is also charged with utterances that could lead to the killing or injuring of foreigners who may turn up to vote in the presidential election on March 12. "Sebaggala was the centre of interest during my investigations after he had spoken at the rally but I did not find anything like inciting people not to pay tax," Ntawana told Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Charles Kisakye. During cross-examination by defence lawyer, Caleb Alaka, Ntawana said he did not hear the accused incite people not to pay taxes. Another state witnesses, Corporal Patrick Okot, said Sebaggala told people not to pay graduated tax because Besigye was going to scrap it. Okot said Sebaggala said whoever had not paid tax, should not pay because Besigye would win. Ends