Kyagulanyi says campaigns still on

COURT|KYAGULANYI|CRIME 

IGANGA - National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi has said they will continue with the campaigns despite the arrests and court cases. 

Speaking after his release on Friday (November 20, 2020), Kyagulanyi said more than 30 of his supporters were confirmed dead, while 500 are languishing in jails across the country following riots that rocked the nation following his arrest in Luuka district.

He said he will address the nation on Saturday on the way forward following the incidents that followed after his arrest.

He thanked the media, supporters, for exposing what transpired to the rest of the world and promised to continue with his campaign trail shortly after his temporary release.

Kyagulanyi, Friday appeared before the court in Iganga and was charged with holding an illegal rally contrary to the Electoral Commission guidelines.

The Presidential hopeful, who was brought before court at around 2:30 pm, dressed in a blue t-shirt and black pair of jeans looked tired and denied the charges read to him by chief magistrate Catherine Agwenyo.

Members of Kyagulanyi family who included his wife Barbara Itungo, defence lawyers, and supporters had reported at the Iganga court premises with hope that he would appear in the morning hours only to wait for the rest of the day.

Heavily armed police, local defense unit personnel who had been deployed at the court premises and all roads leading to the district headquarters set up roadblocks checking occupants of all vehicles heading to the direction of court while boda boda cyclists who normally operate along the main Iganga to Mayuge highway had to be sent away for fear of forming crowds.

Defence lawyers led by Medard Ssegona said the appearance of their client is a clear indication he would have been tortured during the day detention at Nalufenya Central Police Station.

Ssegona said the two trousers and shirt he had were all torn indicating he had been tortured by security personnel while in detention.

"I have not yet talked to him but judging from his appearance one would tell he was tortured," he said.

Kyagulanyi was granted a non-cash bail of sh1m and instructed to appear again before court on December 14.

Hundreds of his supporters jubilated outside the court premises after discovering that their candidate had been granted bail.