Kyadondo East MP elect Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda has been remanded to Luzira prison.
He appeared before the Nakawa Grade One Magistrate George Obong, where he was charged with three counts including; Incitement of violence, the state alleges that Nganda and others still at large between Kireka Trading centre and Kireka police post incited youth to acts of violence, blocking the road, throwing stones on moving vehicles and injuring innocent persons thereby causing breach of the peace.
He is also charged with common nuisance in which the state alleges that Nganda between Forum for Democratic Change offices and Kireka police post unlawfully made a procession including youth and members of the press to converge in a public road in a bid to escort him to his alleged place of work and thereby obstructing other road users.
The state also charged him with failure to comply with lawful orders by the Inspector of Police Mwesigye Godfrey in police uniform when he ordered Ssemujju to peacefully withdraw from the public road with his supporters so as to allow smooth flow of traffic.
Medard Segona, representing Ssemujju produced two sureties including FDC Vice President Easter Region Salamu Musumba and Fredrick Mpanga, an advocate with A.F Mpanga and company advocates.
Segona asked court to consider a non cash bail considering the time at which the accused has been brought to court and the coming Easter holiday. He condemned the practice of police for bringing suspects to court late with an intention of having them taken to jail.
He asked court not be used as an instrument of oppression by the state.
State prosecutor Abiti Samson then told court that Ssemujju was being arraigned before it for the second time in one week on the similar charges including unlawful assembly. This despite being granted bail in the previous appearance only to go and prepare another ground to break the law of the country.
Abiti added that as a leader Ssemujju should have had the capacity to restrain himself since his acts caused loss of lives and property. He also asked court to provide bail but with stringent measures to send a message to the applicant so as to be law abiding.
Magistrate Obong in his ruling cautioned Ssemujju that since he has been arraigned before court twice in one week, such a trend should be brought to an end. However, many questions remain unanswered in their minds if the accused frequently gets subjected to the similar activities.
He then offered him bail of one million shs cash. A heated argument then ensued between the magistrate and Segona over the timing since the money is supposed to be deposited in the bank yet it was already 5:00pm. Segona asked the magistrate to give an order so that they could pay cash to the court cahsier, but the magistrate lost his cool and sent them out of his court. He also ordered the sureties to pay a non cash bond of 2million shs not cash.
Outside court, Ssemujju’s friends and family then quickly collected one million shillings, however, upon reaching the cashier, the magistrate ordered that if they did not have the yellow bank receipt , court would not take the money. Ssemujju was then packed onto a police pickup and whisked to Luzira prison.
The case comes up on the 18th of May for mention.
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