Bobi Wine case deferred amid tight security

Bobi Wine’s co-accused in the dock at Buganda Road Court on May 23, 2019. PHOTO BY RUTH ANDERAH

The hearing of a case in which  Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine as accused of disobeying statutory order has been deferred after the musician-cum-politician failed to appear in court.

However, his co-accused; Mr David Lule alias Selector Davie, Mr Julius Katongole, Mr Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu and Mr Edward Sebuufu were in court.

Bobi Wine’s lawyers led by Mr Asuman Basalirwa told Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court on Thursday that Mr Kyagulanyi was unable to appear in person because he is out of the country on official duties.

Mr Basalirwa told the court that Mr Kyagulanyi had sent one of his sureties Mr Patrick Nsamba Oshabe (MP Kasanda South) to represent him.

However, Ms Barbara Kyomugisha, a state prosecutor asked court presided by Grade one Magistrate, Ms Esther Nahilya to issue criminal summons against Kyagulanyi for shunning court.

But Ms Nahilya extended the bail of all suspects until July 10 when the hearing will commence.

The prosecution alleges that in July 2018, Bobi Wine, his co-accused and others at still at large, while at Constitutional Square in Kampala, allegedly contravened the Public Order Management Act by holding an illegal assembly.

Security was heightened at Buganda Road Magistrates Court amidst the morning downpour as Bobi Wine supporter flooded court to attend the session.

Roads leading to Buganda Road Court had to be blocked.