Two former MPs spent another night in Prison after failing to secure money for their bail on Thursday.
Charles Angiro Gutmoi, the former Erute North legislator and Isha Otto Amiza of Oyam South were among four people arrested on Wednesday for allegedly participating in an anti UMEME demonstration in Lira town. The others are Mike Adoko, a youth representative at Lira Municipal Council and Patrick Omara Anyeke, the spokesperson of the Forum for Democratic Change in the district.
The demonstration which turned violent was against constant power outages currently experienced in the country.
The four appeared in court on Thursday and were charged with unlawful assembly and inciting violence contrary to section 65 sub-section one of the penal code act.
They however denied the charges and Lira Chief Magistrate Gabriel Nyipir granted them a cash bail of 5 million shillings each while their sureties were bonded at 10 million shillings not cash.
But because the court session ended late and the suspects could not immediately organize money for their bail they were taken back to prison
Their case will resume for hearing on December 8th 2011.
Those who stood sureties for them include Lira district FDC chairman Patrick Ayana Okello, Bob Okae, the Apac District LC5 chairman and Tom Odur Anang, the FDC vice chairperson in Northern Uganda.
Defense lawyer Isaac Okae protested the bail amount saying he will apply for a review before the same court. However he noted that the laws allow the court to award any conditions for a bail.
Okae also argued that the court should consider taking action against the police officers who participated in the brutal arrest of the suspects.
Earlier in the day the state had objected to the bail applications saying the suspects may go back to demonstrate again once released especially the two former MPs.
Angiro is facing another charge of inciting violence under before the grade one magistrate’s court.
