UGANDA: Activists charged over unlawful rally

By Dan Wandera

IN SUMMARY: The six FDC officials arrested in Nakasongola last week, had been granted bail on Monday.

.............................

Nakasongola

The six FDC party activists arrested in Nakasongola District last week have been charged with unlawful assembly in the Nakasongola Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The suspects, who had earlier denied the charges before Nakasongola Grade One Magistrate Marion Mangeni, had been granted bail on Monday. They, however, had to be remanded until yesterday because the court cashier was reportedly not around to receive the Shs200,000 bail fee.

The mobilisers, who were picked up by police officers attached to the Violent Crime Intelligence Operations Unit in Kampala, had convened a meeting at Lule Hall in Migeera Town Council.

The activists had reportedly gathered for an evaluation meeting after a rally and meeting of the district party delegates presided over by FDC presidential candidate Maj-Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu.

“We were kept in the CPS cells in Kampala without being charged. We are supposed to appear in court on November 1 for mention of the case,” Mr Tadeo Yiga told the Daily Monitor after the court appearance.

Meanwhile, the opposition supporters in Migeera have complained that they have been receiving threatening messages indicating that they are trying to de-campaign government programmes in the district. But the RDC, Mr David Masereka, has dismissed the claims, saying the opposition is just seeking attention.

“There is no opposition in Nakasongola and I find it very funny for anybody to say he is being threatened,” Mr Masereka said.

Source: Daily Monitor (24/10/2012): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Activists+charged+over+unlawful+rally/-/688334/1593508/-/13eqe/-/index.html