Magistrate irked by failed Nyakaana arrest

By Andante Okanya  

Grade one magistrate Grace Balintuma of Buganda Road Court in Kampala, is irked by Police’s failure to arrest Kampala central division chairman Godfrey Nyakaana, who is wanted in court to answer charges of assault and robbery.

The charges stem from last year’s February 23 local council general elections, where he purportedly caused bodily harm to Red Pepper scribe George Arinaitwe, and robbed him of his Sony camera worth sh400, 000. The incident allegedly took place at the designated Railway Grounds polling station.

On Friday, Nyakaana was expected in court to enter a plea on the charges. Prior on June 14, Chief Magistrate Eleanor Khainza issued criminal summons for Nyakaana.

Two weeks later, the summonses were subsequently upgraded to a warrant of arrest by Balintuma who was assigned to handle the case.

However, Balintuma was dismayed at Police’s failure to arrest Nyakaana, wondering how they could find difficulty in arresting a person who is easily traceable in light of his public figure status.

“Nyakaana is just here in town but they(Police) can’t arrest him!”  Balintuma said in bewilderment, shortly after being informed by the state prosecutor David Lukwago, that Nyakaana was absent.

Accordingly, Balintuma extended the arrest warrant to August 21.