Burora bail application deferred, Chief Magistrate away for management training

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Court has deferred the ruling of the bail application by the former  Rubaga Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Herbert Anderson Burora. Burora is battling charges of hate speech and spreading malicious information.

On Friday, Burora appeared at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court for a ruling on his bail application, but Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi did not show up. He is reportedly away for an official managment training session.

Burora will re-appear in court on Thursday when the state Prosecutor Richard Birivumbuka informs the court about the findings on the authenticity of his sureties. He appeared before the Grade One Magistrate Sanula Nambozo who adjourned the matter.

Burora is charged with six counts of  Hate speech and spreading malicious information to demean the person of the Speaker of Parliament.

The prosecution alleges that between March and June 2024 in the areas of Kampala District or thereabout while using a computer via his X Handle Harder HB shared malicious information about the Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Anita Annet Among showing that Among us a Torturer, murderer, and kidnapper, and corrupt.

According to the prosecution, the information is likely to ridicule, degrade, or demean and promote hostility against Among.

Burora has since denied the charges against him and applied for bail for which the Prosecution was expected to respond today.

Last week, he presented Yasin Katwere the Managing Director of Success Motors his Cousin Brother, and his wife Georgina Burora as some of his sureties.

Trouble for Burora who had served as a Deputy RCC for more than five years in both Nakawa Division and Rubaga started around March when he started posting information condemning corruption in Parliament especially perpetrated by the Speaker of Parliament Among.

He was accordingly suspended from the office in a March 14th, 2024 letter by Hajji Yunus Kakande to pave the way for investigations, and directed to hand over to the Deputy RCC for Kampala Central.

The letter indicated that Burora had been summoned for a meeting where he was faulted for having violated official advice, but he continued to issue statements on social media which was contrary to Uganda Public Service Standing Orders(2021).

However, after being suspended for 28 days, Burora chose to resign on March 18th, 2024 saying he wanted to protect his conscience.