Bobi Wine, Other MPs Granted Bail, Kassiano Restricted from Arua for 3 Months

Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine and three other MPs; Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru and Kassiano Wadri (MP-elect Arua municipality) have been released on bail.

The High Court in Gulu approved the bail applications for the MPs together with 8 other accused persons.

The MPs and some 30 other suspects were recently charged with treason, contrary to Article 23 subsection 1 of the Penal Code Act.

On Monday morning, the defence side led by lawyer Abdu Katuntu presented suspects and their respective sureties, and presented reasons why the accused qualify to be granted bail.

Bobi Wine appeared in court with two crutches as he could not walk by himself. Among his sureties was former FDC President, Mugisha Muntu, his brother and singer, Eddy Yawe and MP for Buyaga West county, Barnabas Tinkasiimire.

On his part, Ntungamo municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga presented MPs Florence Namayanja and Adong Lilly as his sureties while MPs Angeline Osege and Herbert Edmond Ariko stood surety for Jinja East legislator, Paul Mwiru.

Former Leader of Opposition, Winnie Kiiza and DP President, Norbert Mao stood surety for Kassiano Wadri..

High Court Judge, Steven Mubiru approved the bail application with conditions of a non cash bond of Shs 5 million by the accused and She 10 million (non cash) to by each of the sureties.

In its conditions, the prosecution side asked that Arua municipality MP-elect, Kassiano Wadri is restricted from visiting his constituency for a period of three months to allow calm to prevail and investigations to proceed undisrupted.

“We pray that Hon Kassiano Wadri, the MP-elect for Arua municipality where the violence started stays away from Arua for 3 months. This is meant to allow Police to investigate without more violence and for the situation to normalize,” the prosecution said.

Justice Mubiru in his ruling agreed that it was desirable to have a calm environment so all parties are enabled to prepare their cases with no interruption.

“After 3 months, he will be free to visit the constituency and carry out his normal activities. In the event that there is a need for him to visit, he will be required to formally apply to court for approval,” Justice Mubiru said.

The State also requested that as part of the conditions for bail, the accused do not engage in unregulated processions as this could further escalate violence. But the defence lawyer, Medard Ssegona said this condition was not necessary as by law, every procession has to be regulated by the authorities.

An earlier request by the prosecution to have the travel documents (passports) of the accused especially the MPs deposited to court was waivered by the Judge saying it was inconveniencing and there was no flight risk posed by the accused.

Outside the court, an ambulance could be seen waiting on standby to transport ailing Bobi Wine from Gulu to Kampala to get the much needed medical attention.

His wife, Barbra Kyagulanyi ‘Barbie’ in her reaction to the bail approval said she finally got what she had been pushing for.

“From the start, I have been pushing for my husband to be released so he can get medical treatment. I have been given what I have been asking but it hasn’t been easy. Right now, I have to take my husband husband to the hospital, the rest will follow,” Barbie told reporters outside the court.

Prosecution alleges that the accused on August 13, 2018 at Arua municipality and other places with intent to do harm to the President unlawfully threw stones thereby hitting and smashing the hind window of one of the vehicles in the Presidential convoy.

By publication time, Court in Gulu was proceeding to hear the bail applications for the remaining half of the 33 suspects.