Bobi Wine's social media tax demo case deferred to September

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court has deferred the case in which Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine is accused of illegal protest relating to mobile money tax to September 17.

The case was on Monday adjourned by Grade One Magistrate Joan Acaa because the trial Magistrate Esther Nahirya was indisposed.

Kyagulanyi is battling the charge together with his brother, Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, his aide Edward Sebufu alias Eddie Mutwe, David Lule and Julius Katongole.

The accused were represented by lawyers Luyimbaazi Nalukoola and Shamim Malende.

The lawyers also asked the court to order the state to avail them with evidence they intend to use during the trial so that they can prepare their defence on time.

Bobi Wine and his co-accused are battling the charge of disobedience of statutory duty contrary to section 116 of the Penal Code Act.

The offence attracts a maximum sentence of two years in prison upon conviction.

The charge stems from his 2018 protests against social media and mobile money charges, which were introduced by the government to raise the tax base.

As usual, there was tight security around the court premises to ensure sanity.

Police Field Force Unit and Counter-Terrorism Police were deployed along Buganda Road to ensure there was no disruption.

Kyagulanyi left the court immediately after adjournment of the case.

The prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on July 11, 2018, at Constitutional Square in Kampala disobeyed provisions of the Public Order Management Act by holding a public meeting without giving notice to any authorised officer.

It further alleges that the accused refused to coordinate and cooperate with the Police to ensure that all participants in the demonstration were unarmed and peaceful.