Luweero critic gets five years
Oct 23, 2005
David Ntege, who recently addressed a sectarian remark to President Yoweri Museveni, has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment for promoting sectariansm.
By Frederick Kiwanuka
David Ntege, who recently addressed a sectarian remark to President Yoweri Museveni, has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment for promoting sectariansm.
According to the Penal Code Act, the offence carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Ntege, 30, a resident of Nakigulube village in Nakaseke, Luweero district, was convicted on his own plea when he appeared before Luweero Grade One Magistrate Charles Kadis on Friday.
The dark, diminutive and timid-looking Ntege, with unkempt hair, spent six nights in a police cell, waiting to face the charge sanctioned in Kampala by the Director of Public Prosecution.
On October 15 at a public rally called by the President in Nakaseke, Ntege said, “Disitulikiti yaffe wagitwala Butalangu. Wagiwa balaalo,†meaning, “You gave our district to Balaalo (herdsmen)â€
The mainly Baganda population in the southern part of the new district of Nakaseke use the term balaalo to refer to the cattle keeping tribes (Banyankore and Banya-rwanda) who occupy the northern semi-arid part.
Ntege said the facts were true but it was a slip of the tongue due to over-excitement when he saw the President. He also said he had eight children to look after and was suffering from abdominal pains and fever. He prayed court to forgive him.
Prosecutor Alfred Makasi, however, prayed court for a deterrent punishment. He said although the accused was a first offender, the utterance he made was dangerous.
Ends
David Ntege, who recently addressed a sectarian remark to President Yoweri Museveni, has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment for promoting sectariansm.
According to the Penal Code Act, the offence carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Ntege, 30, a resident of Nakigulube village in Nakaseke, Luweero district, was convicted on his own plea when he appeared before Luweero Grade One Magistrate Charles Kadis on Friday.
The dark, diminutive and timid-looking Ntege, with unkempt hair, spent six nights in a police cell, waiting to face the charge sanctioned in Kampala by the Director of Public Prosecution.
On October 15 at a public rally called by the President in Nakaseke, Ntege said, “Disitulikiti yaffe wagitwala Butalangu. Wagiwa balaalo,†meaning, “You gave our district to Balaalo (herdsmen)â€
The mainly Baganda population in the southern part of the new district of Nakaseke use the term balaalo to refer to the cattle keeping tribes (Banyankore and Banya-rwanda) who occupy the northern semi-arid part.
Ntege said the facts were true but it was a slip of the tongue due to over-excitement when he saw the President. He also said he had eight children to look after and was suffering from abdominal pains and fever. He prayed court to forgive him.
Prosecutor Alfred Makasi, however, prayed court for a deterrent punishment. He said although the accused was a first offender, the utterance he made was dangerous.
Ends