Kasese suspects bail to be heard in prison over Ebola

KASESE | COURT | EBOLA | BAIL

As a precaution against Ebola, the International Crimes Division of the High Court has decided to hear the bail application of 49 subjects of Rwezururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere at Kirinya Prison in the Jinja area.

Technical difficulties prevented the court from proceeding with the case hearing today, November 8, 2022, via zoom technology. As a result, the presiding judge Alice Komuhangi decided to reschedule the hearing for tomorrow, November 22, 2022, at Kirinya Prison, where the 49 applicants have been detained since 2016.

Defense attorneys, led by Evans Ochieng, applauded the move to handle the bail in prison, stating that it will allow the court to examine the accused's health more accurately than when conducted via zoom.

The group contends in its bail application that they are assumed innocent and do not intend to plead guilty to the allegations, but that because their trial has been delayed, they have been held on remand for more than six years.

Having health issues while incarcerated and needing to be released for treatment are two other justifications for bail.

Mumbere and the group have been charged with terrorism, treason, attempted murder, murder, and murder about the 2016 conflict between security and the kingdom.

Mumbere was granted bail and was only permitted to travel within the Kampala, Wakiso, and Jinja districts.

Following battles between security personnel and alleged supporters of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, the majority of the accused were taken into custody at Mumbere's palace in Buhikira, Kasese town.

After some suspected Omusinga royal guards fired an improvised grenade toward Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and Police personnel, this occurred.

Soldiers and police officers were targeted by a spontaneous grenade as they were patrolling Kasese town.

Gunfire from the joint security forces in response provoked reprisal attacks on Police positions across the district by alleged kingdom loyalists.

In the attacks, almost 100 people died, including 16 police officers.

The case

The prosecution alleges that Mumbere and his co-accused on September 14, 2016, murdered police constable Simon Peter Apile, and Saverio Ochema and attempted to murder Detective Assistant Inspector of Police Denis Ahebwa, Police constables Polycarp Ojoko, Benon Byaki, and Francisco Nsimaki.

They are also accused of killing Godfrey Kasimba on March 24, 2016, a Police constable formerly attached to the defunct Field Force Unit.

The state further alleges that the accused between July and November 2016 at Bukara and Nyabutsi villages in Kabalore district attacked various police establishments, and property and unlawfully made explosives and possessed ammunition.