MPs Beti Kamya, Lukwago charged
RUBAGA North MP Beti Kamya was yesterday charged with promoting war, sectarianism, sedition and inciting violence. She denied the charges before Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Margaret Tibulya.
By Edward Anyoli
RUBAGA North MP Beti Kamya was yesterday charged with promoting war, sectarianism, sedition and inciting violence. She denied the charges before Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Margaret Tibulya.
The prosecutor, senior state attorney Caroline Nabaasa, said Kamya, in an article published in the Daily Monitor on January 28, called for war against President Museveni.
Kamya was also accused of inciting violence when she stated: “Time will come when all this misdeeds will be undone at a great cost. My appeal is to the influential Bahima to restrain Museveni. Do not let him do this to you, it is not sustainable. Think of your children. Think of the majority Bahima who are not party to this madness, but will pay the ultimate price when you, the beneficiary of the madness, have fled.â€
The prosecutor also alleged that Kamya promoted sectarianism in the same article titled: “Where is Museveni’s Heart.†The article, the prosecution argued, was likely to promote “feelings of ill will and hostility among the citizens of Uganda.â€
Kamya was further charged with sedition, where the prosecution alleges that her writings were intended to bring hatred or excite disaffection against the President. To back up the charge, the prosecution cited her statement: “Museveni seems to have a vengeance on Uganda as if the country was unkind to him and must pay for his suffering.â€
Kamya was released on a non-cash bond of sh2m. Her sureties were MPs Beatrice Anywar Atim (FDC), Hussein Kyanjo (Jeema) and Christopher Kibanzanga (FDC). Each of the MPs was bonded at sh3m, not cash.
Ululations and foot-thumping erupted when the Chief Magistrate granted the MP bail.
Kamya, dressed in a grey suit, appeared composed as the charges were read to her. She asked the Chief Magistrate to read the charges twice before she pleaded.
State Attorney Nabaasa asked court for a one-month adjournment to allow the Police complete investigations.
Present in the court were Rubanda County West MP Henry Banyenzaki (NRM) and John Ken Lukyamuzi. The case was adjourned to March 11, for the next hearing.
In a separate development, Central Division MPÂ Elias Lukwago was charged with uttering a false document related to the murder of the Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM) leader, Dr. Andrew Kayiira. Lukwago, clad in a white tunic, pleaded not guilty.
The MP was picked up by Police on Friday from Wandegeya in Kampala and spent three nights in the Police custody before he was charged. He was released on bail.
Hundreds of DP supporters, led by Bukoto South MP Matia Nsubuga, jubilated and chanted party slogans after the Masaka Grade 1 Magistrate, Flavia Matovu, granted him bail.
Business came to a standstill as DP supporters from Masaka town took to the streets to celebrate Lukwago’s release as anti-riot Police kept watch.
Senior Resident State Attorney David Atyeni had opposed the bail on the grounds that Lukwago would run away and that his sureties were not substantial.
“We laboured to bring Lukwago to court after exhausting all the possible avenues, even through the office of the Speaker of Parliament,†he said.
Atyeni asked the court to remand Lukwago since he had refused to respond to the criminal summons served to him through Speaker Edward Ssekandi.
But the lead defence lawyer, Chrisestom Katumba, said the sureties were substantial.
They were the Speaker of Masaka Municipality, Denis Majwala, the acting deputy Mayor of Masaka Municipality, Charles Kasibante and the DP chairperson for Bukoto East Constituency in Masaka, Dick Lukyamuzi.
The magistrate said Lukwago was entitled to his constitutional right to bail and that the charges against him were bailable. The case was adjourned until March 10 for the next hearing.
The prosecution said Lukwago issued a false Scotland Yard report at a rally held in Masaka on January 13 last year, related to the murder of former rebel leader Dr. Kayiira. Lukwago is jointly charged with party president Ssebaana Kizito, and the Kyadondo South MP Isa Kikungwe.
Additional reporting by Dismus Buregyeya
RUBAGA North MP Beti Kamya was yesterday charged with promoting war, sectarianism, sedition and inciting violence. She denied the charges before Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Margaret Tibulya.
The prosecutor, senior state attorney Caroline Nabaasa, said Kamya, in an article published in the Daily Monitor on January 28, called for war against President Museveni.
Kamya was also accused of inciting violence when she stated: “Time will come when all this misdeeds will be undone at a great cost. My appeal is to the influential Bahima to restrain Museveni. Do not let him do this to you, it is not sustainable. Think of your children. Think of the majority Bahima who are not party to this madness, but will pay the ultimate price when you, the beneficiary of the madness, have fled.â€
The prosecutor also alleged that Kamya promoted sectarianism in the same article titled: “Where is Museveni’s Heart.†The article, the prosecution argued, was likely to promote “feelings of ill will and hostility among the citizens of Uganda.â€
Kamya was further charged with sedition, where the prosecution alleges that her writings were intended to bring hatred or excite disaffection against the President. To back up the charge, the prosecution cited her statement: “Museveni seems to have a vengeance on Uganda as if the country was unkind to him and must pay for his suffering.â€
Kamya was released on a non-cash bond of sh2m. Her sureties were MPs Beatrice Anywar Atim (FDC), Hussein Kyanjo (Jeema) and Christopher Kibanzanga (FDC). Each of the MPs was bonded at sh3m, not cash.
Ululations and foot-thumping erupted when the Chief Magistrate granted the MP bail.
Kamya, dressed in a grey suit, appeared composed as the charges were read to her. She asked the Chief Magistrate to read the charges twice before she pleaded.
State Attorney Nabaasa asked court for a one-month adjournment to allow the Police complete investigations.
Present in the court were Rubanda County West MP Henry Banyenzaki (NRM) and John Ken Lukyamuzi. The case was adjourned to March 11, for the next hearing.
In a separate development, Central Division MPÂ Elias Lukwago was charged with uttering a false document related to the murder of the Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM) leader, Dr. Andrew Kayiira. Lukwago, clad in a white tunic, pleaded not guilty.
The MP was picked up by Police on Friday from Wandegeya in Kampala and spent three nights in the Police custody before he was charged. He was released on bail.
Hundreds of DP supporters, led by Bukoto South MP Matia Nsubuga, jubilated and chanted party slogans after the Masaka Grade 1 Magistrate, Flavia Matovu, granted him bail.
Business came to a standstill as DP supporters from Masaka town took to the streets to celebrate Lukwago’s release as anti-riot Police kept watch.
Senior Resident State Attorney David Atyeni had opposed the bail on the grounds that Lukwago would run away and that his sureties were not substantial.
“We laboured to bring Lukwago to court after exhausting all the possible avenues, even through the office of the Speaker of Parliament,†he said.
Atyeni asked the court to remand Lukwago since he had refused to respond to the criminal summons served to him through Speaker Edward Ssekandi.
But the lead defence lawyer, Chrisestom Katumba, said the sureties were substantial.
They were the Speaker of Masaka Municipality, Denis Majwala, the acting deputy Mayor of Masaka Municipality, Charles Kasibante and the DP chairperson for Bukoto East Constituency in Masaka, Dick Lukyamuzi.
The magistrate said Lukwago was entitled to his constitutional right to bail and that the charges against him were bailable. The case was adjourned until March 10 for the next hearing.
The prosecution said Lukwago issued a false Scotland Yard report at a rally held in Masaka on January 13 last year, related to the murder of former rebel leader Dr. Kayiira. Lukwago is jointly charged with party president Ssebaana Kizito, and the Kyadondo South MP Isa Kikungwe.
Additional reporting by Dismus Buregyeya