The High Court Criminal Division has dismissed a bail application filed by Dr. Kizza Besigye and Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, further remanding them.
High Court Judge Justice Tadeo Asiimwe threw out the application on grounds that the applicants failed to file a fresh application before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate or the Chief Magistrates Court.
Besigye and Mukaaku through their lawyers led by Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, Ivan Bwowe, and Ernest Kalibala applied for bail in the High Court after the Buganda Road Magistrates Court declined.
Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza denied the duo bail on June 15 because there was a high possibility that they would repeat the same crime they had previously been jailed for.
Muhumuza stated that it had been less than two weeks since the duo was granted bail on similar charges of inciting violence.
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The lawyers indicated that the Magistrates Court wrongfully denied bail to their clients based on a track record of unprosecuted cases opened against them by the State.
Following the High Court ruling on bail, the lawyers claim this decision amounts to political persecution. The lawyers led by Abdullah Kiwanuka said that they are going back to Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court as advised by the High Court.
Mukaaku and Besigye were further remanded to Luzira Prison but had presented substantial sureties who will be able to make sure that they return to Court as and when required.
The lawyer presented Kampala Capital City Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, former Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament Roland Mugume, and Besigye's partner Engineer Winnie Byanyima as Besigye's sureties.
