By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL:
Buganda Road Court has on Tuesday January 25, granted Sh500,000 cash bail to satirical novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija who has been detained for close to one month.
Kakwenza was arrested on December 28 from his home for allegedly abusing President Museveni and the Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba using his twitter.
- He is facing charges of offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011.
“On December, 24, 2021, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija in the Kampala district willfully and repeatedly used his twitter handled to disturb the peace of his excellency the president of Uganda General Yoweri Museveni with no purpose of legitimate communicate,” the charge sheet read in part.
Last week, his lawyers led by Eron Kiiza asked court to release him on bail citing his medical condition after being tortured by security during and after his arrest.
The state prosecutor however asked court not to release noting that when released he would jeopardize the ongoing investigations. The magistrate then fixed January 25, as dates for hearing of the bail application.
On Tuesday, Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Dr.Douglas Singiza inclined to release the detained author on a Sh500,000 bail based on the circumstances of the case.
“The accused person has presented credible sureties some of whom are lawyers while others are political leaders of one of the political parties. Given the circumstances of this case, it is my considered view that it is not even necessary to consider expensive bail conditions in monetary terms. I therefore release the accused person on bail,” Dr.Singiza said in a short ruling.
Kakwenza was asked to pay shs500,000 in cash as bond whereas each of the sureties for the author pays shs10million non-cash as bond.
Court further set conditions to grant bail to Kakwenza among which include depositing his passport with the court for a period of six months as the hearing continues but noted this will be reviewed with time.
Dr.Singiza said whereas the Principal Judge directed that national IDs for sureties should not be retained by courts while granting bail, the same directive didn’t say anything about national IDs and travel documents for accused persons.
Dr. Singiza further barred lawyer from either parties from commenting about the case in the media or else the bail will automatically be cancelled.
“All parties in this case are specifically barred from discussing this matter in the media. Particularly the accused person and the defence are advised not to discuss this matter in the media as a breach of this condition will lead to automatic collapse of the bail,”Dr.Singiza said.
The case has been adjourned to February,1 for mention.
