Nambooze, Lubega trial halted over petition

Aug 13, 2008

THE trial of two Buganda Kingdom officials charged with sedition last month has been halted, pending the outcome of a constitutional petition challenging the law on sedition.

By Charles Ariko

THE trial of two Buganda Kingdom officials charged with sedition last month has been halted, pending the outcome of a constitutional petition challenging the law on sedition.

Medard Lubega, the deputy information minister in the Mengo government and Betty Nambooze, the chairperson of the civic education committee on land, were on July 25 charged at Nakawa Chief Magistrates’ Court with sedition.

The prosecution said Lubega and Nambooze made statements intended to incite the public to hate the President.

The two allegedly made the utterances in different programmes aired on the Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio owned by the Mengo government.
The prosecution added that the duo made the statements during the Twejjukanye, Agafa ‘e Mengo and Crossfire talk- shows.

But the two denied the charges and were granted bail of sh2m, not cash.
Earlier, Nambooze, Lubega and Charles Peter Mayiga, the Mengo information minister, were detained for over a week in various Police cells in three districts of western Uganda.

They were accused of promoting sectarianism, inciting violence, attempting to acquire firearms and terrorism. However, Mayiga was released on Police bond without a charge.

David Mpanga, one of the lawyers representing the accused, yesterday applied to the Nakawa chief magistrate, Deo Nizeyimana, to halt the trial.

“The proceedings in this court ought to be stayed pending the resolution of the Constitutional Court petition,” he said.
The petition was filed by journalist Andrew Mwenda against the Attorney General, challenging sections 39 and 40 of the Penal Code Act.

Mpanga informed court that when a matter is pending before the Constitutional Court, subordinate courts cannot proceed with related cases until the matter is resolved.

James Odumbi, who represented the State, did not object to the application.
He, however, told court that the Police were still investigating the case against the two.

Nizeyimana adjourned the trial. The two are required to report back to court on September 26 for the extension of their bail.

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