Kawempe Grade one Magistrate, Damalie Asiimwe, has denied bail to 10 Members of National Unity Platform (NUP) who are engaging in unlawful drilling.
The accused namely; Edward Ssebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, Achileo Kivumbi, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, Doreen Kaija, Calvin Tasi aka Bobi Giant and 5 others had applied for bail on grounds that the cases against them are bailable before the same court, they have a constitutional right with a presumption of innocence and substantial sureties to stand for them.
In the ruling delivered on Tuesday 13th, the trial Magistrate pointed out that the applicants once released on bail, they are most likely to interfere with the ongoing investigations, secondly that some of the sureties who were presented to court are not substantial to persuade the accused persons to appear in court wherever they are required to do so.
It’s said that there was some loopholes concerning the information concerning some the sureties.
Prosecution led by Chief State Attorney Sarah Nambuya during the bail hearing last month, brought it to the attention of the Magistrate that one of the witnesses in this case is a close friend to Eddie Mutwe and he had already expressed concern about his safety
Nambuya also informed court that Mutwe and Kivumbi (applicants) are facing Aggravated Robbery case before Masaka High Court they are more likely to abscond once granted bail.
The Applicants’ lawyers in rebuttal asked the trial Magistrate to ignore the minor issues and technicalities which were being raised by the state and grant bail to their people who had presented substantial sureties as well proof of their fixed places of abode.
Prosecution alleges that on 12th February 2025, the accused convened a meeting where individuals were trained in military-style exercises without permission from the Minister, contrary to Section 45 of the Penal Code Act.
