Col Rtd Kiiza Besigye bailed out at sh3m not sh30m

After consultations at various levels this afternoon Col Rtd Kiiza Besigye was given cash bail by the High Court judge Micheal Elubu, who reduced it from sh30m to sh3m.

Besigye was charged with inciting violencen on 25th May 2022  after he was arrested addressing a protest in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) against skyrocketing consumer prices.

The Rtd Colonel was accused of illegally addressing the public and “indicating or implying that it would be desirable to demonstrate, an act which was calculated to lead to destruction or damage to property.

Later in court, he was offered a release on bail for a cash payment of sh30m ($8,141), but he rejected it as he was not prepared to pay such a exorbitant figure. Court then presided over by Her Worship Siena Owomugisha remanded him to Luzira Prison until July 6th, 2022.

Today, according to High Court Judge Micheal Elubu, the sh30m set by Buganda Road Court grade one magistrate, Siena Owomugisha, as one of the bail conditions for the political activist was harsh and excessive given the case at hand.

Elubu said that since the offence of incitement to violence attracts a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of sh1.440m, the cash bail condition cannot be set at sh30m which is considered too high.

“The trial magistrate correctly stated that bail terms imposed should be a safeguard that once released on bail, the accused will return for his trial. That is as it should be. However, taking all circumstances of the case into consideration, it is my considered opinion that the learned trial magistrate exercised her discretion with a material irregularity when she set the bail condition at sh30m. This condition was manifestly harsh and excessive. It therefore, occasioned a miscarriage of justice,” he ruled. As you read this, Rtd Col Kiiza Besigye is out.