Judiciary warns public over PRA case
Feb 07, 2007
The Judiciary has explained the case regarding the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects and warned the public and other authorities to stop interfering with its independence.
By John Odyek, Anne Mugisa and Joyce Namutebi
The Judiciary has explained the case regarding the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects and warned the public and other authorities to stop interfering with its independence.
The Acting Chief Registrar, Lawrence Gidudu, stated yesterday that the Judiciary should be left to transact its business in court.
Gidudu stated that 14 of the PRA suspects on trial for treason were not released because they did not sign bail bond forms due “to what appeared to be heavy and extra-ordinary military presence within the precincts of court and were returned to prison.â€
He explained that the suspects later challenged their detention in the Constitutional Court. The court, according to him, declared that the charges against the suspects and their trial and detention by the General Court Martial were illegal and unconstitutional and that their High Court bail still stands.
The High Court process to effect the Constitutional Court order, he stated, was interrupted by an application filed by the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The application sought a review of the suspect’s bail and directions on how to implement the order of the Constitutional Court. The High Court was duty-bound to hear and rule on that application before it could effectively dispose of the issue of bail.
“However, when the application came up for hearing, the entire defence team of lawyers declined to attend court, whereupon, all the accused requested an adjournment of about one month to enable them to engage new lawyers. The court granted that request and adjourned the matter to March 1, 2007,†the statement read.
He said the treason case against the suspects is still before the High Court and that the court will resume hearing it.
“We must, therefore, refrain from trying the PRA suspects in the parallel court of public opinion,†he stated.
Meanwhile, internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda has urged MPs and members of the public to follow the laid-down guidelines when visiting prison facilities.
The minister was explaining an aborted visit to Luzira Prisons by MPs on February 5. The visit was led by Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Latigo wrote to the minister notifying him of the intended visit. The letter was copied to the commissioner for prisons.
The minister said he received the letter, which also suggested that the MPs intended to hold a public rally in Luzira-Kitintale area after the visit.
Subsequently, the minister, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner General of Prisons advised Latigo that those intending to hold the rally should ask the Police to provide security and to minimise any inconvenience to the public.
The minister said when the MPs arrived at the prisons, Latigo asked that the press be allowed to accompany them inside the prisons. “The request was not allowed since this contravenes the Prisons Rules and Regulations Chapter 26 Section 1 of the Prisons Standing Orders which require specific written authority from the Commissioner General of Prisons,†he pointed out.
The Judiciary has explained the case regarding the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects and warned the public and other authorities to stop interfering with its independence.
The Acting Chief Registrar, Lawrence Gidudu, stated yesterday that the Judiciary should be left to transact its business in court.
Gidudu stated that 14 of the PRA suspects on trial for treason were not released because they did not sign bail bond forms due “to what appeared to be heavy and extra-ordinary military presence within the precincts of court and were returned to prison.â€
He explained that the suspects later challenged their detention in the Constitutional Court. The court, according to him, declared that the charges against the suspects and their trial and detention by the General Court Martial were illegal and unconstitutional and that their High Court bail still stands.
The High Court process to effect the Constitutional Court order, he stated, was interrupted by an application filed by the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The application sought a review of the suspect’s bail and directions on how to implement the order of the Constitutional Court. The High Court was duty-bound to hear and rule on that application before it could effectively dispose of the issue of bail.
“However, when the application came up for hearing, the entire defence team of lawyers declined to attend court, whereupon, all the accused requested an adjournment of about one month to enable them to engage new lawyers. The court granted that request and adjourned the matter to March 1, 2007,†the statement read.
He said the treason case against the suspects is still before the High Court and that the court will resume hearing it.
“We must, therefore, refrain from trying the PRA suspects in the parallel court of public opinion,†he stated.
Meanwhile, internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda has urged MPs and members of the public to follow the laid-down guidelines when visiting prison facilities.
The minister was explaining an aborted visit to Luzira Prisons by MPs on February 5. The visit was led by Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Latigo wrote to the minister notifying him of the intended visit. The letter was copied to the commissioner for prisons.
The minister said he received the letter, which also suggested that the MPs intended to hold a public rally in Luzira-Kitintale area after the visit.
Subsequently, the minister, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner General of Prisons advised Latigo that those intending to hold the rally should ask the Police to provide security and to minimise any inconvenience to the public.
The minister said when the MPs arrived at the prisons, Latigo asked that the press be allowed to accompany them inside the prisons. “The request was not allowed since this contravenes the Prisons Rules and Regulations Chapter 26 Section 1 of the Prisons Standing Orders which require specific written authority from the Commissioner General of Prisons,†he pointed out.