Winnie Byanyima Charged With Sedition

By Anne Mugisa and Edith Kimuli Mbarara Municipality MP Winnie Byanyima was yesterday charged with sedition. Byanyima allegedly told Kenya Television Network (KTN) that Uganda is training Rwanda Interahamwe killers. Byanyima allegedly twice repeated the statements to the press at Entebbe and Kampala. She, however, denied the charges before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Catherine Bamugemereire. Byanyima faces two counts each of which carries a sh50,000 fine or a maximum of seven years jail or both. Byanyima, 42, was released on a cash bail of sh500,000 while her three sureties were bonded for sh10m. The sureties are MPs Vincent Kimera (Bukoto East), Dick Nyai (Ayivu County) and Kithende Kalyebogha (Bukonzo East). Byanyima was ordered to deposit her passport at the court before being released. State Attorney Joan Kagezi and Byanyima's lawyers battled over the order. Caleb Alaka said depositing her passport with court would curtail her movement as an MP and that besides she was law-abiding. He said the order was unconstitutional because it implied that Byanyima was guilty before trial. Alaka said Byanyima would need to travel because she is a member of several international civic bodies and keeping her passport would reflect badly on Uganda. The magistrate said she was free to seek temporary clearance to travel. The prosecutor said Byanyima on April 7,2001 at Entebbe Airport confirmed that she made the offensive utterances on KTN on March 31, 2001. He said Byanyima said President Museveni was training Interahamwe genocidaires against the government of Paul Kagame. The State said the statement was intended to bring hatred, contempt or excite disaffection against Museveni and the Government. She is also said to have again confirmed the remarks on April 10, 2001 at Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, Kampala, at a press conference. Byanyima's husband, Col. Kizza Besigye, was at the court together with other supporters who included Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi, former Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala and Winnie's sister Edith Byanyima. Supporters jammed the courtroom and waited for Byanyima, who was detained for about 40 minutes, to be released. The prisoners shouted, "Ssenyondo (hammer)," and "Maama Nannyondo," the couple's nicknames during the recent presidential campaigns. Ends