DPs Betty Nambooze charged with sedition
Dec 11, 2009
Democratic Party spokesperson Betty Nambooze appeared before grade one magistrate at Mwanga II court in Mengo and was charged with sedition.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
Democratic Party spokesperson Betty Nambooze appeared before grade one magistrate at Mwanga II court in Mengo and was charged with sedition.
Nambooze, who looked weak, denied the charges and was later granted non-cash bail of sh1m, while her two sureties were bonded with sh2m each.
Prosecution alleged that on August 19, 2009 at Mengo, Nambooze uttered seditious words while appearing on the Kiriza Oba Gaana programme on CBS 89.2 FM radio, hosted by Meddie Nsereko.
According to the charge sheet, her statements were intended to bring hatred, contempt and to excite disaffection against President Yoweri Museveni and the Government.
Nambooze, the prosecutor alleged, accused Museveni of a plan to kill the Kabaka, being the main land owner, using his spokesperson, Tamale Mirundi.
“The President sends him (Tamale) on radios to tell people to kill the landlords. After killing them, the Tamales turn and arrest them (the killers). Their plan is to kill the Kabaka in disguise of killing landlords,†Nambooze is quoted as saying in the charge sheet.
Nambooze, who is jointly charged with journalist Siraje Lubwama, failed to appear in court on December 2.
Her lawyer, Fredrick Mpanga, at the time told the court that she was away for treatment in South Africa.
The lawyer yesterday requested the court to extend her bail to six months to allow her travel to South Africa any time upon instructions from her doctors and to allow her keep her passport.
The lawyer also asked the hearing of the case be put on halt pending a Constitutional Court ruling filed by journalist Andrew Mwenda challenging the law. Mwenda wants the offence of sedition declared unconstitutional.
Mpanga cited several cases that had been put on hold for similar reasons, including those against MP Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA), Radio One presenter Robert Sserumaga, former journalist Ibrahim Ssemujju, Observer editor James Tumusiime and MP Betty Kamya (FDC).
The magistrate set January 12 as the day she would deliver her ruling.
Present at the court were her husband, Henry Mukasa Bakireke and DP’s president Ssebaana Kizito.
“My poor health is being worsened by these numerous court cases that require me to attend in personâ€, Nambooze told friends outside court.
Democratic Party spokesperson Betty Nambooze appeared before grade one magistrate at Mwanga II court in Mengo and was charged with sedition.
Nambooze, who looked weak, denied the charges and was later granted non-cash bail of sh1m, while her two sureties were bonded with sh2m each.
Prosecution alleged that on August 19, 2009 at Mengo, Nambooze uttered seditious words while appearing on the Kiriza Oba Gaana programme on CBS 89.2 FM radio, hosted by Meddie Nsereko.
According to the charge sheet, her statements were intended to bring hatred, contempt and to excite disaffection against President Yoweri Museveni and the Government.
Nambooze, the prosecutor alleged, accused Museveni of a plan to kill the Kabaka, being the main land owner, using his spokesperson, Tamale Mirundi.
“The President sends him (Tamale) on radios to tell people to kill the landlords. After killing them, the Tamales turn and arrest them (the killers). Their plan is to kill the Kabaka in disguise of killing landlords,†Nambooze is quoted as saying in the charge sheet.
Nambooze, who is jointly charged with journalist Siraje Lubwama, failed to appear in court on December 2.
Her lawyer, Fredrick Mpanga, at the time told the court that she was away for treatment in South Africa.
The lawyer yesterday requested the court to extend her bail to six months to allow her travel to South Africa any time upon instructions from her doctors and to allow her keep her passport.
The lawyer also asked the hearing of the case be put on halt pending a Constitutional Court ruling filed by journalist Andrew Mwenda challenging the law. Mwenda wants the offence of sedition declared unconstitutional.
Mpanga cited several cases that had been put on hold for similar reasons, including those against MP Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA), Radio One presenter Robert Sserumaga, former journalist Ibrahim Ssemujju, Observer editor James Tumusiime and MP Betty Kamya (FDC).
The magistrate set January 12 as the day she would deliver her ruling.
Present at the court were her husband, Henry Mukasa Bakireke and DP’s president Ssebaana Kizito.
“My poor health is being worsened by these numerous court cases that require me to attend in personâ€, Nambooze told friends outside court.