Bobi Wine back in court via video conferencing

COURT

KAMPALA - Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine re-appeared in court Thursday for his bail application by means of the newly-introduced video conferencing system.

Earlier, at about 9:10am local time Thursday, the trial magistrate at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court, Esther Nahirya, walked into a filled courtroom.

But after a couple of minutes of waiting, she decided to stand over the matter for 10 minutes.

A number of people, including some Members of Parliament, were in court waiting for proceedings to kick off, New Vision's Farooq Kasule reported.

For this session, matters would be conducted differently today.

Legislator Kyagulanyi was due to apply for his bail application after he was remanded to Luzira Prison on Monday after being charged with disobedience of statutory duty.

The charge sheet tendered before court showed that the musician-turned-musician faces charges of offences he allegedly committed last year. He is said to have held a public meeting without giving notice to any authorized officer or Police.

On Thursday, New Vision's Kasule reported that Judiciary spokesperson Solomon Muyita had confirmed that Kyagulanyi's bail application hearing would be conducted via video conferencing.

The system, introduced mid-April this year, links Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court to Luzira Prison.

Chief Justice Bart Katureebe  commissioned the virtual courts on April 15, where inmates and witnesses off-site can attend court through video conferencing.

The system can connect magistrates to Luzira prison's virtual courts fitted at the male and women's wings using video conferencing facilities.

According to the Judiciary, each of the courts is fitted with virtual servers, big flat screens and cameras to relay sound and video.

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party leader Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu was allowed through the gate of Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.

He is the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president.

Everyone who walked into the court was frisked by security personnel.

Buganda Road appeared forlorn Thursday morning.

 

Some people stood outside the manned gate of Bugand Road Chief Magistrates Court.