Lubega and Nambooze were received by a huge crowd
Top Stories
Written by Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda & John Vianney Nsimbe
Friday, 25 July 2008 16:12
SAY THEY WILL REMAIN FIRM
After six depressing days in detention, the three Mengo officials have finally regained their freedom today, momentarily calming the tensions that had built up between Mengo and the central government.
But the battle is far from over because they were only released on bail meaning there is likely to be a long protracted court battle between the two power centres.
Charles Peter Mayiga, Buganda’s minister of Information was the first to be released on Police bond at Jinja Road Police Station at 11.00a.m. while for unknown reasons, government decided to charge the other two, Medard Lubega and Betty Nambooze at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court, two hours later.
But eventually the two–– after being charged with several counts of sedition, inciting violence and promoting sectarianism–– secured non-cash bail of Shs 2million for each surety.
Surprisingly, the charge linking the trio to rebel activities was not preferred, as government had earlier indicated.
They will return to court on August 13, 2008 when the case comes up for mention.
When the presiding magistrate Deo Nzeyimana set Lubega and Nambooze free, the courtroom broke into ululations. Lubega’s wife, Dr. Diana Namuli Lubega, who fainted yesterday in Kyenjojo, was overjoyed to be re-united with her husband. The two hugged for what appeared to be eternity. Nambooze too was happy to rejoin her family, especially her one-year-old son who is still breastfeeding. This excitement extended to their lawyers led by Buganda minister for Research, David Mpanga, Kampala Central MP, Erias Lukwago and Buganda Attorney General, Apollo Makubuya. They all exchanged hugs.
The sureties for Lubega and Nambooze included MPs Issa Kikungwe, Joseph Balikuddembe and Ssozi Kaddu Mukasa.
Before that, court heard that Nambooze allegedly committed a seditious act when in explaining Museveni’s speech in Gombe Sub-county, near Matugga, she said that Museveni despite his old age, was not embarrassed to say what he had said.
On his part, Lubega fell into trouble for allegedly saying during one of his programmes that “since government burnt our kids, we shall have to fight back.” Apparently, he was commenting on the rising incidents of school fires.
As their six-day ordeal came to an end, both Lubega and Nambooze pledged to remain firm despite the experience. Nambooze said they had been detained in horrible cells not fit even for chicken.
Lubega thanked Mengo for standing by him and his family.
After leaving court premises, the trio headed to Bulange in Mengo where they addressed a public rally.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Forum 
