MP Kikungwe charged with sectarianism
Jan 13, 2010
KYADONDO South MP Issa Kikungwe (DP) was yesterday charged with promoting sectarianism. He denied the charge before Makindye Chief Magistrates’ Court and was granted cash bail of sh200,000.
By Edward Anyoli
and Darious Magara
KYADONDO South MP Issa Kikungwe (DP) was yesterday charged with promoting sectarianism. He denied the charge before Makindye Chief Magistrates’ Court and was granted cash bail of sh200,000.
He was charged in connection with a statement he allegedly made at Lweza Catholic Church during the September riots in Buganda.
“This Government wants to get rid of the Baganda and the Baganda should come up and defend the Kabaka and the entire Mengo,†he is alleged to have stated on September 13.
“The Government switched off CBS radio and disarmed the Kabaka. The Government removed his guards and put him under house arrest.â€
He is said to have called upon the Baganda to fight for their radio to be re-opened
. “We, the Baganda, should join hands and fight the Government because it had closed down CBS radio and grabbed the land of the Baganda. Baganda should not allow people from other tribes to contest for any LC post or buy land in Buganda.â€
The prosecution, led by Grace Ntege, said his statement was intended to promote sectarianism against non-Baganda. The words uttered had the effect of creating alienation of the Baganda people on account of their ethnic group, she said.
The case was adjourned to February 18 to enable the Police complete their inquiries.
Meanwhile, Mwanga II Court in Mengo on Tuesday adjourned a sedition case against DP spokesperson Betty Nambooze.
The magistrate, Jeneva Natukunda, adjourned the case to July 12 to allow the Constitutional Court to dispose of a petition challenging the law on sedition.
The prosecution said on August 19, Nambooze uttered seditious words while appearing on a CBS radio show hosted by Meddie Nsereko.
According to the charge sheet, her statements were intended to bring contempt and incite hatred against President Yoweri Museveni and the Government.
The extension followed an application by Nambooze’s lawyer, Frederick Mpanga, who cited the poor health of his client. He said at the time the case was filed, Nambooze was in South Africa for treatment.
Nambooze, the prosecutor said, 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). The plan is to kill the Kabaka in disguise of killing landlords,†Nambooze is quoted as saying in the charge sheet.
Nambooze is jointly charged with a journalist, Siraje Lubwama, who also appeared in court.
Nambooze told journalists outside the court that they were being tortured by court processes that demand them to attend in person.
“The Government and the court should stop the Police from arresting and charging people with sedition. The law of sedition has been challenged; it should first be decided on.â€
The East African Media Institute and journalist Andrew Mwenda have challenged the sedition law. They want it to be declared unconstitutional. Several cases have been put on hold as a result.
and Darious Magara
KYADONDO South MP Issa Kikungwe (DP) was yesterday charged with promoting sectarianism. He denied the charge before Makindye Chief Magistrates’ Court and was granted cash bail of sh200,000.
He was charged in connection with a statement he allegedly made at Lweza Catholic Church during the September riots in Buganda.
“This Government wants to get rid of the Baganda and the Baganda should come up and defend the Kabaka and the entire Mengo,†he is alleged to have stated on September 13.
“The Government switched off CBS radio and disarmed the Kabaka. The Government removed his guards and put him under house arrest.â€
He is said to have called upon the Baganda to fight for their radio to be re-opened
. “We, the Baganda, should join hands and fight the Government because it had closed down CBS radio and grabbed the land of the Baganda. Baganda should not allow people from other tribes to contest for any LC post or buy land in Buganda.â€
The prosecution, led by Grace Ntege, said his statement was intended to promote sectarianism against non-Baganda. The words uttered had the effect of creating alienation of the Baganda people on account of their ethnic group, she said.
The case was adjourned to February 18 to enable the Police complete their inquiries.
Meanwhile, Mwanga II Court in Mengo on Tuesday adjourned a sedition case against DP spokesperson Betty Nambooze.
The magistrate, Jeneva Natukunda, adjourned the case to July 12 to allow the Constitutional Court to dispose of a petition challenging the law on sedition.
The prosecution said on August 19, Nambooze uttered seditious words while appearing on a CBS radio show hosted by Meddie Nsereko.
According to the charge sheet, her statements were intended to bring contempt and incite hatred against President Yoweri Museveni and the Government.
The extension followed an application by Nambooze’s lawyer, Frederick Mpanga, who cited the poor health of his client. He said at the time the case was filed, Nambooze was in South Africa for treatment.
Nambooze, the prosecutor said, 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). The plan is to kill the Kabaka in disguise of killing landlords,†Nambooze is quoted as saying in the charge sheet.
Nambooze is jointly charged with a journalist, Siraje Lubwama, who also appeared in court.
Nambooze told journalists outside the court that they were being tortured by court processes that demand them to attend in person.
“The Government and the court should stop the Police from arresting and charging people with sedition. The law of sedition has been challenged; it should first be decided on.â€
The East African Media Institute and journalist Andrew Mwenda have challenged the sedition law. They want it to be declared unconstitutional. Several cases have been put on hold as a result.