After getting bail, Kahonda determined to soldier on

PIC: MP Dononzio Kahonda with his jubilant supporters after being granted bail in Luweero. (Credit: Frederick Kiwanuka)

COURT

LUWEERO - Embattled Ruhinda MP Donozio Kahonda walked to freedom after a Luweero court granted him bail Tuesday.

Kahonda, whose bail was granted by Luweero Chief Magistrate
Charles Serubuga was met by scores of his jubilant supporters who had jammed the court premises.

The MP, who is facing charges of impersonation and forgery in Luweero and Jinja, had last week been granted bail in Jinja pending an appeal which he made against a Jinja High Court ruling that had him sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

Kahonda. who beat Justice minister Kahinda Otafiire in last year's parliamentary elections in Ruhinda constituency, was arrested
over two months ago over charges of impersonation and forging academic documents.

Jinja High Court last month convicted him to nine months over
charges that he committed in Jinja. But later, the court gave him bail after he appealed against the imprisonment sentence.

Meanwhile the Luweero Chief Magistrate had last week remanded the same legislator over similar charges that he allegedly committed in Luweero but granted him a non-cash bail of sh500,000 on Tuesday.

His three sureties who included three residents of Bombo town were each bonded sh5m, also not cash.

After being released, Kakonda's excited supporters immediately led him into an overcrowded vehicle.

Speaking to reporters later, Kahonda blamed his woes on his former parliamentary rival Otafiire, whom he accused of wanting to own his home district.

"This is a case of witch-hunting. Kahinda Otafiire thinks Mitooma is
in his hands. But he has been ashamed by court," he said, adding that what he had gone through would not deter him from his goal of developing his constituency.

Meanwhile, his lawyer, Caleb Mwesigwa, described the court's decision to grant Kahonda bail as a turning point in his client's cases.

"Today we have seen another turning point," said Mwesigwa, who said he did not know the complainant  in his client's case.

He had earlier appealed to the state to disclose the complainant and the evidence adduced against his client, saying that he wanted to
ascertain.

The case was adjourned until September 14.