Besigye Re-arrested Shortly after Court Extended His Bail

Uganda’s opposition kingpin Dr Kizza Besigye has been arrested minutes after Rukungiri Chief Magistrate’s court extended his bail

On Thursday, Besigye, the Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, FDC secretary for Mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe, Rukungiri District councillor Innocent Tashobya, Joseph Akankwasta Bamuhangire and Darius Tweyambe appeared before the magistrate’s court.

Presiding magistrate Julius Borore extended the political activists’  bail to February 20, 2018.

They are facing charges of  inciting violence, malicious damage to property and disobedience of statutory duty.

The group was arrested in Rukungiri on October 19 on their way to Kabale District to address  FDC presidential candidate Patrick Amuriat’s rally.

Their appearance in court today was for mention of their case and setting of trial dates.

But the state prosecutor did not report to court due to the prosecutors’ strike over pay.

RE-ARRESTED

After court granted them bail, Besigye and his driver Fred Kato, aide Ronald Muhinda and Ingrid Turinawe were arrested and driven to Mbarara.

Besigye and group were arrested because he skipped court, said Kigezi regional police commander Denis Namuwoza.

Police in Mbarara on Tuesday fired teargas and live bullets to block an FDC party campaign rally by  Amuriat, who was accompanied by  Besigye and other opposition politicians.

It all started when Police and the politicians failed to reach an agreement on the directions to take and the venue for the rally.

Earlier Amuriat and Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa appeared in Mbarara Chief Magistrate’s Court. They were granted bail.

Additional Reporting & Photo: Courtesy

Marion Ayebazibwe