Dr. Kizza Besigye, a former presidential candidate, has been detained after refusing to pay Sh30 million into his bail following his continued protest against skyrocketing commodity prices.
Former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has been detained in Luzira Prison after he refused to pay Sh30 million cash for his bail following his continued protest against skyrocketing commodity prices.
The political activist was arraigned before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala and charged with incitement to violence over his recent protest against commodity prices in the country at Arua Park within Kampala city centre after he beat his security at his residence on Tuesday.
At Arua park, Besigye was arrested and forced to spend a night at the Naggalama police station.
On Wednesday, he was brought before the Grade One Magistrate Siena Owomugisha who released him on an shs30 million cash bond which he declined to pay.
The state told the court that Besigye while at Arua Park without any lawful excuse addressed members of the public implying that it would be desirable for them to demonstrate, yet this act can result in violence and destruction of property.
In response, Besigye however, pleaded not guilty to the charges before applying to be released on bail. He presented former Bukooli Central MP and ex-Leader of Opposition in Parliament Wafula Oguttu and FDC deputy secretary, General Harold Kaija, as his sureties.
Through his lawyer Erias Lukwago, Besigye asked the court to consider previous circumstances that led to his May 24 arrest before setting his bail conditions.
He told the magistrate that despite a Constitutional Court order that restrained police from imprisoning him at his home, his rights to the free movement had been curtailed since May 12, 2022, as police blocked him on three occasions from leaving his house in Kasangati, Wakiso District under the unlawful preventive arrest.
He challenged the court that since police have consistently violated his Constitutional right to earn a living, he should not be stressed with paying the sh30m cash bail.
This was, however, declined by the magistrate who in her ruling said she was not convinced with Besigye’s plea before ordering him to pay Shs30 million cash and bonded each of his sureties at Shs70 million, not cash.
According to Erias Lukwago, Besigye instead opted to go to prison but tasked his lawyers to appeal against the shs30 million cash bond in a higher court on account that the judgement was unfair.
Meanwhile, moments shortly after his remand, Besigye rushed to his social media handle to state that he considers the cash bail condition as an extension of the injustices he has faced for a long in the hands of those in power.
“Buganda Rd Court, where I’ve been charged with “inciting violence”, has just granted me cash bail of Shs 30m! I consider this an extension of the injustices I’ve faced for long. I’ve asked my lawyers to appeal it as I endure remand. All Ugandans should stand firm Vs injustices,” he tweeted.
