Magistrates Court in Lira grants bail to NUP leaders

Six National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders who were arrested in Loro Town council, Oyam district on Thursday, November 12, have been produced in court, and charged with two counts and released on cash bail.

The suspects appeared in Lira Chief Magistrates Court on Friday, November 13, before Grade One Magistrate Susan Adelo, and charged with two offences; failure to wear faces masks and overcrowding in a vehicle. 

The suspects pleaded not guilty to the offences and were released on a cash bail of sh100, 000 and their six sureties bonded at sh5,000,000 each, non-cash.

The six, Dr Lina Zedriga Waru Abuku, 59, the NUP Vice President, Gerald Oyeki, 29, Cosmas Opio, 23, Aaron Rauxen Amani, 31, Supartan Mukazi Aule, 30, and Samuel Obedgiu, 25, were ordered to reappear in court on December 15, 2020.

In the first count, the six accused persons on November 12, 2020, at Loro Town Council in Oyam district, knowing or having reason to believe it was likely to spread infection or disease dangerous to life unlawfully or negligently failed to wear face masks while travelling in a small motor vehicle reg. number UBD 521L Subaru Forester.

In the second count, the accused persons knowing or having reason to believe it was likely to spread infection or disease dangerous to life, unlawfully or negligently overcrowded themselves, six in number in motor vehicle reg. number UBD 521L  which is only allowed to carry four people.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to both counts with Dr Zedriga emphasizing that she had her face mask on and still had it in the dock.

The magistrate while considering the bail application said she is considering that this is the time for campaign and most of the accused are involved in campaigns. "It's only fair that they are given an opportunity to exercise their rights," she said.  

Although defence lawyer pleaded for non-cash bail, the magistrate said it's at her discretion to decide whether to grant cash or non-cash bail. After they were released, the team said they will follow the NUP president to Moroto.

Dr Zedriga commended the team that stood with them throughout their ordeal saying they will abide by the court conditions. "We know that this is already a failed case because the charges are trumped up," Dr Zedriga a lawyer herself said.

When asked how she was treated during and after the arrest, Dr Zedrigsa a former magistrate turned activist said they were brutally arrested by the army and handed over to the police.

"It was brutal, it was militarized, and it was like we were in a war zone, totally unprofessional, with sticks and guns, very brutal," she said.

She said the scene reminded her of events before 2006 before the Juba peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) when there was chaos all over Northern Uganda. Zedriga said military men grossly violated her rights.

"The arrest was bad; it was like my team was armed rebel, yet we were not."

Eunice Akullu, NUP parliamentary candidate for Kole Woman seat said this is a shame to the country. "This is a political season and they shouldn't have been held," she said.

Leo Okello Mawa, MP aspirant for Otuke East under NUP ticket said he is disgusted with the situation his colleagues were put in.

Daniel Ongia, an aspirant for Division Mayor Lira City East said this is the right time for young people who are yearning for change. "We need peace in the process for change," he said.