East African Gazette
Makindye
The Chairman of the Army General Court Martial (GCM) Makindye has denied bail to 28 support National Unity Platform supports bail which they have applied for by Brig General Mugabe.
The Chairman GCM in his ruling said that applicants are likely to abscond bail if granted. Mugabe said that though the applicants had presented substantial sureties.
In his ruling Mugabe said that the Court did not find merit in the applicants’ application and declined to grant them bail and urged an expeditious trial in the main case to begin.
He said the applicants did not prove permanent place of residence despite their cases being bail-able given their two years they have spent in bail.
The applicants case number 007 0f 2023 arising from MIS crime case UPDF GCM/072/2022.
The Applicants based their applications under art 23 (6) and 139 (1) of the Constitution 1995, section 14 and 15 of the trial indictment act cap 23 of the judicature criminal procedures rules. The application was supported by notice of motion supported by the applicants’ affidavits in support.
The main application was contained in notice of motion that the applicant had a Constitutional right to be given bail and that they have been in custody for over two years with the trial uncertain. The applicants have presented sound sureties to stand for them.
Robert Kyagulanyi the President of NUP party on his twitter handle X said he had just learnt that the Military court in Makindye had again declined to grant bail to our comrades who are stuck at Kitalya.
Kyagulanyi said some of the prisoners had spent over three years despite presenting substantive sureties with some of them as Members of Parliament.
“The military court now claims that these comrades, some of whom were picked from their homes, do not have fixed places of residence. For opposing Museveni’s these comrades have paid such a heavy price” Kyagulanyi said.
He said even in the midst of all pain and frustration, I want to encourage all of us to never give up the fight for freedom. Oppression never has the last laugh. Eventually, light will shine on Uganda!