By Jamillah Kemigisa
The Lyantonde Grade One Magistrate’s Court has released two National Unity Platform supporters on bail while remanding three others over allegations of assaulting a police officer and stealing a mobile phone during a political gathering on November 4 in Lyantonde District.
Those granted bail are Godfrey Kisitu and Richard Mbayo. Magistrate Akiiki Wandera ordered each of them to pay a cash bail of fifty thousand shillings and present sureties valued at one point five million shillings, not in cash. The two are accused of attacking a police officer and taking a mobile phone during an NUP rally.
Their co-accused, Nelson Ndyasiima, Azam Ayisiga, and Hamid Kigozi, were remanded to Kabula Government Prison after failing to raise sureties required by the court. Lawyers Shamimu Malende and Joshua Tumukudde, who represent the group, asked for an adjournment to allow more time to secure the necessary sureties for the remanded suspects.
Malende said the process had been difficult because some family members were unaware that their relatives had been taken to court. She expressed optimism that the remaining accused would also be released once their sureties are arranged. The case has been set for mention on November 17.
Prosecution maintains that the group assaulted a police officer and grabbed a mobile phone during the NUP rally, allegations that the accused have denied.
In a separate incident, thirteen other NUP supporters appeared before the Kiruhura Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of assault and causing bodily harm. Court records show that the alleged offences occurred on November 5 at Sanga trading centre along the Masaka–Mbarara highway during campaign activities for NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
The thirteen supporters now face assault charges, and their cases remain before court.
NUP supporters have in recent years faced multiple arrests during political activities, with cases ranging from assault to unlawful assembly. The frequent confrontations have continued to draw attention to the treatment of opposition members and the legal environment surrounding political mobilization in Uganda.
