'Yellow pigs' case ruling pushed to Tuesday

KAMPALA - City Hall Court has adjourned until Tuesday the ruling of a case involving two youths under the so-called jobless brotherhood.

The ruling had been expected on Monday but Grade One Magistrate Moses Nabende asked for more time to read through the evidence from four state witnesses.

He will need 24 hours, he said.

The accused, Norman Tumuhimbise and Robert Mayanja, were arrested mid-last year for sneaking two pigs painted yellow into Parliament in protest against high unemployment in the country.

They are facing three charges of:

• interfering with parliamentary proceedings

• criminal trespass, and

• conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor

Nabende is the third magistrate to handle this particular case after magistrate Beatrice Khainza withdrew from it recently amid claims by the defense lawyer of being biased.

Outside court on Tuesday, the suspects' lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde told reporters) he is optimistic the case will be ruled in their favor.

"There have been so many adjournments in this case since the hearing commenced but I am optimistic that tomorrow's ruling will be in our favor."

The men he is representing also are as confident.

"My co accused and I will be here tomorrow to listen to the ruling and we have hope that the case will end in our favor because the state even withdrew two of its witnesses from testifying against us. This means there is hope," he said.