Human trafficking suspect sent back to Luzira

Jul 25, 2014

A woman accused of human trafficking has been sent back to Luzira Prisons after Court declined to rule on her bail application immediately.

By Francis Emorut and Cynthia Aber

A woman accused of human trafficking has been sent back to Luzira Prisons after Court declined to rule on her bail application immediately.

Annet Umutoni, 29, appeared before Justice Moses Mukiibi at War Crimes Court in Kololo yesterday.
The suspect who was represented by Anthony Ahimbisibwe has been on remand for over 120 days and was seeking for bail application.

The senior state attorney, Emmanuel Muwonge asked the Court to denay the bail application on grounds that Umutoni will interfere with the investigations and the sureties given were not substantial.

He informed the court that state has lined up nine witnesses to testify against the accused.

Prosecution alleges that the offences committed by the accused are of capital nature.

“I object to the bail application because of serious offences the applicant is charged with, of aggravated human trafficking,” Muwonge told court.

He said the offences are two counts of child trafficking. The accused, a single parent of four children and a first year student of International relations at Cavendish University kept crying and wiping tears before the Judge in his chambers.

Although the judge allowed the photojournalist to take her picture, the accused covered her face with a scarf and was shielded by men who accused the journalist of intimidating the suspect and not respecting her rights.

Umotoni was first arrested in 2011 with similar charges but the case could not proceed because of the technicality which her lawyer termed as illegality of the court (by then the Attorney General consent was not sought).

The accused’s lawyer presented three sureties who included Hasfa Nakintu Kemigisha, 45,a house wife, Robert Kyambadde,39, a businessman and Margaret Opil a housewife saying they were substantial enough to stand as sureties for the applicant.

"I pray that you find these sureties substantial to exercise your discretion to grant the applicant bail," Ahimbisibwe said.

After close scrutiny the Judge however, questioned the letters by LC1s saying they were not giving enough information about the accused and besides the hand-writings of the LC1 of two different places were the same as well as the format.

"How can the LCIs letters which are of different places have the same wording, handwriting and same format?" Justice Mukiibi asked.

"It means nothing. It's non-committal."

The counsel of the applicant agreed with Justice Mukiibi's observation.

On hearing both submissions, the Judge announced the date of bail application ruling to take place on August1.
"In those days we could give instant decisions but now things have changed.

At one time Court would sit until at night to determine bail application. It's better to do things properly," Mukiibi said as he fixed August 1 for the ruling on the applicant's application.

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