Besigye Bails Jailed Campaigners

FORMER presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye has bailed about 19 of his campaigners from Sembabule Prison, where they were detained on charges of being idle and disorderly, attempted escape and holding an illegal assembly. Eddie Ssejjoba reports that the campaigners, including Dr. David Mukasa of the national task force, were on Friday evening released by Grade One magistrate, Boniface Wamala of Sembabule district court. They were all released on sh680,000 paid by Besigye. He promised to meet the balance of 60,000 later. Fifteen of the campaigners were arrested on March 11 from Sembabule, where they had reportedly gone to monitor the March 12 polls. They were charged with being idle and disorderly but another case was opened against them when they allegedly tried to escape from the cells. Five others were arrested on March 19 at Ntete trading centre where they had allegedly gone to collect evidence of poll rigging from supporters. The Sembabule district prisons commander, Charles Lubwama, complained that the suspects were causing fear and panic amongst fellow inmates and threatening to harm prison warders. He said he had tightened security at the prison after they turned rowdy and refused to eat. Ends