Sebuliba Charged

By Edith Kimuli THE chairman of Kawempe Division, Richard Sebuliba Mutumba, was yesterday charged with inciting supporters of Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye to loot and beat up supporters of presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni. Mutumba, who faces two counts of inciting violence, allegedly committed the offences at a political rally in Kawempe Mbogo on February 4, 2001. Mutumba, who reported to the Police on Wednesday following a summons, had since been in detention. He appeared before the Buganda Road Court magistrate, Mr. Charles Kisakye. State Attorney Tadeo Asiimwe told the court that Sebuliba "by reason of his political opinion incited the followers of presidential candidate Kizza Besigye to beat up the supporters of presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni." He said on the same day and place Mutumba incited Besigye supporters to "loot or destroy the property of the supporters of Museveni." Mutumba denied the charges. The court-room was packed to capacity with some other people standing. Present were Besigye's former special campaigner Al-Hajji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala and the Lubaga South MP, John Ken Lukyamuzi. Sebaggala has been charged with inciting people not to pay graduated tax, while Lukyamuzi allegedly incited Ugandans to hack with machetes any foreigners found voting in the just-concluded presidential elections. Mutumba was represented by Makindye West MP Nsubuga Nsambu and Damiano Lubega. He was granted sh500,000 bail and his sureties, his brother Dr. Male Mutumba and a Kawempe Division councillor, Semakula Merewooma, were bonded to sh5m, not cash. Kisakye warned Mutumba against interfering with investigations while on bail. The State had opposed the bail, saying he would interfere with witnesses. The State said investigations were incomplete and applied for adjournment to March 30, which was granted. Ends