The lawyers representing suspects Abdullah Kiwanuka and George Musisi informed Court that they had not been served with the evidence the Prosecutors want to rely on for trial. Court has also heard that the Defense lawyers had express instructions to proceed with hearing of the case in the absence of the two other suspects.
Shortly after the adjournment, Kakooza rose up against his arm and started complaining loudly that they are living under poor conditions at Kitalya Min Max prison where they sleep in "Bigaali”, (wheelbarrows). He also claimed on top of his voice that they are being persecuted because of their political beliefs and do not have any case whatsoever.
Musisi asked the military court to release his clients on bail, saying that the law provides that when suspects spend more than six months without trial, they qualify for mandatory bail.
The NUP supporters who have been granted bail include Hannington Kasasa 24, the NUP spokesperson for Hoima district, Jim Mukonye 20, the General Secretary NUP Hoima, Collins Birungi 25 and Favour Ssentamu 36.
Turyamusiima now states that the 74 people have been on remand for a period exceeding 120 days that is 210, equivalent to seven months which amounts to unreasonable detention.
Prosecution led by Major Emmy Ekyaruhanga asked to be given a week to make a response to the application. Ekyaruhanga added that the officer who was supposed to swear an affidavit responding to the application was away in Gulu on other state duties and will return within a week.
The suspects are believed to be the ring leaders who mobilized NUP supporters from various parts of Hoima City to block the Hoima-Fort Portal road who were protesting the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi wine, the President National Unity Platform-NUP.
The NUP supporters blocked the Hoima Fort Portal road using logs, stones and tree branches paralyzing transport. They then started burning car tyres in the middle of the road.
The group is part of the 76 people who were arrested from Kamwokya and Kiyembe during a joint security operation aimed at recovering copies of the army and police uniforms from civilians. But to avoid congestion in the courts, they were split into smaller groups for their bail applications.
