Court issues arrest warrant for Nyakana

BETTY NDAGIRE

Kampala, Uganda.

Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate’s Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Kampala Central Division chairman, Mr Godfrey Nyakana, on charges of defying traffic rules and assaulting a traffic police officer.

The warrant was issued yesterday by magistrate Alaali Muhirwa after the State Attorney, Mr David Lukwago, alleged that the accused has deliberately declined to appear in court for trial.

According to the police records, in May this year, Mr Nyakana allegedly defied traffic rules while driving from the city centre to Kibuye.

Prosecution alleges that when Mr Isaac Kambale, a traffic police officer, confronted him, “he remained adamant prompting the officer to pluck off the car number plate, registration UAP 684K.”

Mr Nyakana allegedly jumped out of his car and assaulted the traffic officer before driving away.

Nyakana yesterday expressed surprise at the new development, saying the traffic and assault offences had been settled out of court. “I knew about that case which we settled,” he said in a telephone interview. The magistrate adjourned the matter to September 18 for hearing.

Last month the court issued a warrant of arrest for Mr Nyakana on charges of assault and robbery. Prosecution alleged that on February 23, 2011, during elections of the Lord Mayor, Mr Nyakana beat a journalist who had been assigned to cover the exercise. It further alleged that the accused also robbed Mr Arinaitwe George Fidel of his camera. The case is pending.

Source: Daily Monitor (23/08/2012): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Court+issues+arrest+warrant+for+Nyakana/-/688334/1485222/-/qt4uhp/-/index.html