Six KCCA Councillors get bail
Buganda Road Grade One Magistrates Court has freed another batch of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Councillors after one week in jail at Kitalya Government Prison.
Nine frail looking Councillors appeared before court via zoom technology from prison. Among those detained in prison include;Faisal Kibirige, Gadhafi Nasur , Mushin Kakande , Mosh Ssendi Afrikan, Paul Kato, Richard Sembatya, Moses Kataabu, Fausta Bitaano, and the personal assistant to the speaker Aksam Ssemakula.
Their lawyer including Erias Lukwago, Goffrey Turyamusiima, Benjamin Katana, Kenneth Paul Kakande and two others asked Court to grant them bail because the case is bailable and they required to seek specialized medical attention.
Six KCCA Councillors get bail
The Councillors told the Grade one magistrate Buganda Road Namboozo Sanula that they were in pain resulting from wounds inflicted on hem during their arrest. Two Councillors Mushin Kakande and Richard Sembatya, told the Grade One Magistrate that they were battered on the back with heavy batons that has since left them with internal pains and wounds.
“My lord I was boxed and beaten several times on the back , I cant sleep properly in the night I am forced to lie only on one side or sit through the night, I beg to be allowed bail to seek treatment,” Kakande said
Court was able to grant bail to only six of the nine Councillors after they presented proper documents and substantial sureties, these include; Faisal Kibirige, Gadhafi Nasur, Mosh Ssendi Afrikan, Paul Kato, Moses Kataabu, Fausta Bitaano. Three Councillors including Richard Ssebatya, Mpindi Charles, Kakande Mushin were further remanded until February 17, 2022 after the court realized discrepancies in their documents.
The KCCA Councillors mainly from the opposition party National Unity Platform(NUP) were arrested on February, 03, 2022 while protesting the eviction of street vendors. They were roughed up by armed police officers while marching on the streets with placards expressing their dissatisfaction at the manner in which street vendors are being evicted off the streets and consequently charged in court and remanded to Kigo and Kitalya government prisons.
Last week all 14 Councillors presented thirty sureties but Court only granted a cash bail of Shs 500,000 to four female councilors and a male and Shs 2 million none cash to their sureties. These ladies include Zahara Luyirika, Winnie Nafuka, Fausta Bitalo and Kigozi Ruth. Grade One Magistrate gave them bail on grounds that they are women and need to take care of their families,including one who has a two months old baby.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
