Buganda Road Chief Magistrates court under Chief Magistrate, Dr Douglas Singiza has ordered the four sureties of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija who flee the country recently, to be arrested or each one pays Shs10m immediately.
Dr Singiza issued an arrest warrant against the four sureties who include; National Unity Platform party secretary-general Lewis Rubongoya, lawyer Julius Galisonga, Annah Ashaba, a teacher at Kololo Secondary School and activist Job Kaija. He asserted that if the sureties appear in court with the bail money (shs10 million each), their obligation as sureties will be discharged and the arrest warrant cancelled.
Kakwenza was arrested last year in December from his home in Kisaasi by security operatives and detained at an unknown place for abusing President Yoweri Museveni and First Son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on Twitter.
He was later brought before the court of law in January, 2021 where he was charged with offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011. He was later released on January 25th, by the Buganda Road Court on a cash bail of Shs500,000 and She10 million for his four sureties each.
However, a few days after his release, Kakwenza run out of the country to seek asylum in Germany. The governmentvcritic vowed never to return to the court citing the biasness of the trial magistrate Singiza.
His running into exile has now led his sureties into trouble. Last week, the court first issued criminals summons asking them to appear before the court on Monday to show the cause for not bringing Kakwenza to court.
Now, court has asked them to pay shs10 million bail money each or they should show cause as to why the court should not order their arrest. Although their lawyers have asked the court not to order their arrest since it would be unfair to them.
“The sureties have breached their obligations and their prayer is a non-starter. The court can’t be stopped now from issuing an arrest warrant,” Dr.Singiza said, adding “The four sureties are not sure of their roles and that they need constant reminders but said court can’t be part of this.”
The case has been adjourned to May 11, 2022.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
