Mengo minister, MP charged over riots
Sep 29, 2009
KAMPALA Central MP Erias Lukwago and Buganda information minister Medard Lubega were yesterday charged in court in connection with the recent riots and released on bail. Lukwago was charged with inciting violence and Lubega with sedition at the Buganda Ro
By Edward Anyoli And Steven Candia
KAMPALA Central MP Erias Lukwago and Buganda information minister Medard Lubega were yesterday charged in court in connection with the recent riots and released on bail. Lukwago was charged with inciting violence and Lubega with sedition at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court where they appeared separately.
The two were arraigned in court in the evening after spending most of the day at the CID headquarters in Kibuli.
The Police at Kibuli had informed Lukwago that an additional charge of abetting terrorism had been added after a close analysis of his file.
However, when he appeared in court, he was only charged with inciting violence.
Both appeared before magistrate Godfrey Sayekwo and denied the charges. Lukwago was granted a non-cash bail of sh1m. His sureties, Democratic Party president John Ssebaana Kizito and MPs Moses Kabusu and Issa Kikungwe – both DP – were bonded at sh1m each.
The minister was granted non-cash bail of sh2m. His sureties, Betti Kamya (FDC) and Bayiga Lulume (DP), were bonded at sh5m.
The prosecution said Lukwago on September 9, while appearing on Akabozi Kubbiri, a local radio station, implied that it would be desirable to commit “acts calculated to bring death or physical injury to any persons perceived to be opposed to the Kabaka’s visit to Kayungaâ€.
On the same radio station, according to the prosecution, Lukwago also implied that it would be desirable to commit “acts calculated to lead to destruction or damage of propertyâ€.
Lubega, on the other hand, was accused of making statements intended to bring about hatred, contempt and disaffection with the Government.
“The Government of Uganda went ahead and installed someone claiming to be the leader of Banyala who is not from the royal family where leaders of Banyala come from and this is the person called Baker Kimeze,†Lubega was quoted as saying.
“This is the man the Government wants the Kabaka to first ask permission from in order to visit Kayunga, which cannot be accepted because the late father of Capt. Kimeze, Nathan Mpagi, has never been a leader of Banyala.â€
The prosecutor, Festo Nsenga, opposed bail, saying the two were likely to interfere with the investigations. However, the magistrate disagreed with him.
Earlier, the two spent about six hours at the CID headquarters. First to arrive in the morning was Lukwago. He was accompanied by both opposition officials and Mengo sympathisers and his lawyer, Apolo Makubuya, the Attorney General of the Buganda Kingdom.
The charge sheet said Lukwago had been charged with abetting terrorism jointly with Basajjamivule Nsolonkambwe, a talk-show host.
Lubega turned up at the CID headquarters on his own just before noon. “I have not been summoned and I have come on my own accord,†he told journalists.
“I am tired of reports in the media that the Police want to arrest me, so I have come to establish whether it is true.â€
Some minutes later, flanked by Makubuya, Lubega emerged waving a copy of his summons bearing the charge of sedition.
The Police yesterday also issued summons for Betty Nambooze, an outspoken kingdom activist, and Moses Kasibante, a talk-show host with the now closed CBS radio station, owned by the Buganda kingdom. Both are charged with sedition.
KAMPALA Central MP Erias Lukwago and Buganda information minister Medard Lubega were yesterday charged in court in connection with the recent riots and released on bail. Lukwago was charged with inciting violence and Lubega with sedition at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court where they appeared separately.
The two were arraigned in court in the evening after spending most of the day at the CID headquarters in Kibuli.
The Police at Kibuli had informed Lukwago that an additional charge of abetting terrorism had been added after a close analysis of his file.
However, when he appeared in court, he was only charged with inciting violence.
Both appeared before magistrate Godfrey Sayekwo and denied the charges. Lukwago was granted a non-cash bail of sh1m. His sureties, Democratic Party president John Ssebaana Kizito and MPs Moses Kabusu and Issa Kikungwe – both DP – were bonded at sh1m each.
The minister was granted non-cash bail of sh2m. His sureties, Betti Kamya (FDC) and Bayiga Lulume (DP), were bonded at sh5m.
The prosecution said Lukwago on September 9, while appearing on Akabozi Kubbiri, a local radio station, implied that it would be desirable to commit “acts calculated to bring death or physical injury to any persons perceived to be opposed to the Kabaka’s visit to Kayungaâ€.
On the same radio station, according to the prosecution, Lukwago also implied that it would be desirable to commit “acts calculated to lead to destruction or damage of propertyâ€.
Lubega, on the other hand, was accused of making statements intended to bring about hatred, contempt and disaffection with the Government.
“The Government of Uganda went ahead and installed someone claiming to be the leader of Banyala who is not from the royal family where leaders of Banyala come from and this is the person called Baker Kimeze,†Lubega was quoted as saying.
“This is the man the Government wants the Kabaka to first ask permission from in order to visit Kayunga, which cannot be accepted because the late father of Capt. Kimeze, Nathan Mpagi, has never been a leader of Banyala.â€
The prosecutor, Festo Nsenga, opposed bail, saying the two were likely to interfere with the investigations. However, the magistrate disagreed with him.
Earlier, the two spent about six hours at the CID headquarters. First to arrive in the morning was Lukwago. He was accompanied by both opposition officials and Mengo sympathisers and his lawyer, Apolo Makubuya, the Attorney General of the Buganda Kingdom.
The charge sheet said Lukwago had been charged with abetting terrorism jointly with Basajjamivule Nsolonkambwe, a talk-show host.
Lubega turned up at the CID headquarters on his own just before noon. “I have not been summoned and I have come on my own accord,†he told journalists.
“I am tired of reports in the media that the Police want to arrest me, so I have come to establish whether it is true.â€
Some minutes later, flanked by Makubuya, Lubega emerged waving a copy of his summons bearing the charge of sedition.
The Police yesterday also issued summons for Betty Nambooze, an outspoken kingdom activist, and Moses Kasibante, a talk-show host with the now closed CBS radio station, owned by the Buganda kingdom. Both are charged with sedition.