Winnie Byanyima ill, wants passport

MBARARA Municipality MP Winnie Byanyima is ill and is seeking her passport from court to go to Kenya for treatment. Jude Etyang reports that through her lawyer, Erias Lukwago, Byanyima filed an application yesterday to Buganda Road court Chief Magistrate Frank Othembi, saying she is seriously ill and needs her passport to travel to Nairobi for treatment. Lukwago of Lukwago and Alaka chambers told The New Vision that Winnie urgently needs treatment from her personal doctor in Nairobi before he breaks off for the Christmas holiday.” Lukwago, however, declined to say the nature of her illness and was not sure for how long the treatment would be. Byanyima’s diplomatic passport is being held as a bail condition in two criminal cases. She is charged with sedition and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Othembi is yet to fix the hearing date for the application. Winnie returned last week from an international conference in Ivory Coast and re-deposited the passport with the court the following day. Othembi was bitter that the passport had been re-deposited a month after the November 9, deadline. Ends