2 PRA rebels suspects bailed
Aug 16, 2007
TWO People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel suspects were yesterday granted bail by the Mbarara High Court judge, Justice Paul Mugamba. The suspects were identified as Robert Tweyambe and Frank Atukunda.
By Kyomuhendo Muhanga
TWO People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel suspects were yesterday granted bail by the Mbarara High Court judge, Justice Paul Mugamba. The suspects were identified as Robert Tweyambe and Frank Atukunda.
Mugamba set stringent conditions for the six sureties. Each of the sureties was bonded sh20m, not cash and was asked to deposit a land title in court.
The suspects were bonded sh2m cash each and ordered to keep reporting to Bushenyi magistrate court.
Tweyambe and Atukunda are part of the 22 people that were jointly charged with the FDC party president, Dr. Kizza Besigye, with treason.
They were linked to an alleged attempt to overthrow the Government between 2001 and 2004.
The two, together with Besigye’s younger brother Musasizi Kifefe, were separately accused of murdering John Byarugaba in July 2002 in Imaramambo Forest in Bushenyi district. Kifefe was recently granted bail to seek medical attention after his health deteriorated while in prison.
Other nine suspects charged with treason have been released. James Kabaka Tabuga, Idd Ahmed Yunus, John Arike, Bruhan Driantre, Patrick Okiring, Samson Agupio and Yahya Amir Asega were released by the High Court in Arua.
Andrew Odiit, a senior state attorney who represented the state, had objected to the bail application on grounds that the state had not completed its investigations.
He said the suspects would tamper with the investigations if released.
The suspects’ lawyers, led by Kiyemba Mutale, said the state was buying time to deny the suspects their rights.
“My Lord, I find it strange that with all the machinery the state has, it is asking for more time. The suspects have been in prison for a long time.â€
The court adjourned twice before the judge ruled that: “On July 9, the first time the application was to be heard, it never took place. You said the state could not provide funds to bring the suspects to court. On August 24, you told this court you needed only two weeks to finish investigations.
“I find no reasons for this court not to exercise its powers to grant the two suspects bail.â€
Habib Mwanza, a businessman in Rukungiri town, Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC’s women league chairperson and Odo Tayebwa, the party’s western spokesman, stood surety for Atukunda.
Godfrey Shabire, Winniefred Kiiza, the Woman MP for Kasese district and Justine Baguma stood for Tweyambe.
By the time of filing this report, the suspects had not been set free as the sureties were still trying to get land titles. Several FDC party stalwarts outside court were pledging to give in their land titles.
A source said the sureties needed powers of an attorney since the titles were not theirs.
In a press briefing outside the court, Besigye said: “We are grateful that the suspects have been granted bail. But I am surprised at the conditions the court set. They are strange. This is the first time in Uganda that a surety is required to deposit a land title.†He said court should exercise equity in all cases.
Tweyambe said he was arrested on December, 14, 2004 from his room at Makerere University, where he was doing a postgraduate diploma, while Atukunda said he was arrested on November, 21, 2004 from Koboko.
TWO People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel suspects were yesterday granted bail by the Mbarara High Court judge, Justice Paul Mugamba. The suspects were identified as Robert Tweyambe and Frank Atukunda.
Mugamba set stringent conditions for the six sureties. Each of the sureties was bonded sh20m, not cash and was asked to deposit a land title in court.
The suspects were bonded sh2m cash each and ordered to keep reporting to Bushenyi magistrate court.
Tweyambe and Atukunda are part of the 22 people that were jointly charged with the FDC party president, Dr. Kizza Besigye, with treason.
They were linked to an alleged attempt to overthrow the Government between 2001 and 2004.
The two, together with Besigye’s younger brother Musasizi Kifefe, were separately accused of murdering John Byarugaba in July 2002 in Imaramambo Forest in Bushenyi district. Kifefe was recently granted bail to seek medical attention after his health deteriorated while in prison.
Other nine suspects charged with treason have been released. James Kabaka Tabuga, Idd Ahmed Yunus, John Arike, Bruhan Driantre, Patrick Okiring, Samson Agupio and Yahya Amir Asega were released by the High Court in Arua.
Andrew Odiit, a senior state attorney who represented the state, had objected to the bail application on grounds that the state had not completed its investigations.
He said the suspects would tamper with the investigations if released.
The suspects’ lawyers, led by Kiyemba Mutale, said the state was buying time to deny the suspects their rights.
“My Lord, I find it strange that with all the machinery the state has, it is asking for more time. The suspects have been in prison for a long time.â€
The court adjourned twice before the judge ruled that: “On July 9, the first time the application was to be heard, it never took place. You said the state could not provide funds to bring the suspects to court. On August 24, you told this court you needed only two weeks to finish investigations.
“I find no reasons for this court not to exercise its powers to grant the two suspects bail.â€
Habib Mwanza, a businessman in Rukungiri town, Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC’s women league chairperson and Odo Tayebwa, the party’s western spokesman, stood surety for Atukunda.
Godfrey Shabire, Winniefred Kiiza, the Woman MP for Kasese district and Justine Baguma stood for Tweyambe.
By the time of filing this report, the suspects had not been set free as the sureties were still trying to get land titles. Several FDC party stalwarts outside court were pledging to give in their land titles.
A source said the sureties needed powers of an attorney since the titles were not theirs.
In a press briefing outside the court, Besigye said: “We are grateful that the suspects have been granted bail. But I am surprised at the conditions the court set. They are strange. This is the first time in Uganda that a surety is required to deposit a land title.†He said court should exercise equity in all cases.
Tweyambe said he was arrested on December, 14, 2004 from his room at Makerere University, where he was doing a postgraduate diploma, while Atukunda said he was arrested on November, 21, 2004 from Koboko.