MBARARA. A total of 43 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who were arrested last Friday when security operatives intercepted the convoy of their party’s presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, along the Mbarara-Ibanda Road have been remanded to prison .
Those remanded by Chief Magistrate’s Court in Mbarara City on Tuesday include 38 charged with obstructing a police officer on duty and five others on charges of driving without a licence, driving without a helmet, and driving passengers in a vehicle without third-party insurance.
The court, which was presided over by Grade One Magistrate Esther Bagala, who represented Chief Magistrate Andrew Kabombo, heard that on November 7, the 38 accused persons obstructed Mbarara District Police Commander at Mbarara Central Police Station, Keneth Kabwigo, from doing his duties.
All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail through their lawyers, led by Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende.
“Whereas I know that the accused persons have personal liberty. This court should be balanced to the prevailing circumstances. Counsel Tumukunde has also told the court that they have not yet gotten the opportunity to interface with their clients, and some of them have no sureties in this court,” Ms Bagala ruled.
The case of obstruction of a police officer on duty was adjourned until November 19 for the hearing of the bail application.
“It is in the interest of all accused persons that a short adjournment is granted to enable them to prepare and properly apply for bail. A short adjournment is granted to enable them to properly apply for bail. This court also takes into account the concerns for all parties involved,” she said.
The other five suspects, including Onesmas Kasirye, 27; Moses Mugabi, 32; Godius Mwesigwa, 34; Kasimu Magembe, 32; Adrian Taremwa, 30, were charged with traffic-related offences which included driving without a driving license, driving without a helmet, loading passengers without a license and driving without 3rd party insurance.
The prosecution argued that on November 7, between 9 am and 6 pm, the accused persons were driving without a driving licence or helmet, as well as loading passengers on a vehicle that was not licensed to carry passengers.
Four of the five suspects pleaded guilty to the charges, apart from Godius Mwesigwa, who denied all the charges read to him.
“Mwesigwa Godius 34, a resident of Mbarara City (that, on November 7, between 9am and 6pm along Mbarara-Bushenyi-Ibanda road, you were driving a motorcycle UFF 595W without insurance and driving without a helmet,” Ms Rebecca Akulia briefed the court before the accused denied the charges.
She added, “The inquiries are concluded. I am seeking for adjournment for the hearing to commence.”
Mr Adrian Taremwa was charged with loading passengers on a vehicle that was not licensed to carry passengers, and he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The accused was convicted on a plea of guilty, and the state asked the court for a heavy sentence.
“The suspects are charged with traffic and road safety offences. The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of not more than 100 currency points, which is Shs2 million. This offence is rampant, and any driver driving without a license puts the lives of other people in danger. I pray for a deterrent sentence with a maximum fine of 100 currency points,” she pleaded.
The lawyer for the suspect, Allan Musasire, asked the court to give the convict a lenient sentence since he did not waste the court’s time.
“The convict has pleaded guilty and did not waste the court’s time. He is a first-time offender, a young man at 31 years with a wife and three children all below 10 years. We pray this court will be pleased to exercise its powers and caution the convict to enable him to reform and be a meaningful person in a society,” Mr Musasire said.
The magistrate remanded the convict to Prison until November 14, when he will reappear in court for sentencing.
“On November 7, between 9 am and 6 pm. The accused, along the Mbarara-Masaka Road and Mbarara-Bushenyi-Ibanda road, was loading passengers in UBM 255M minibus Toyota Hiace when the vehicle did not have a licence. He was arrested and charged,” Ms Akulia said.