The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Minutes after Jinja High Court judge Eva Luswata granted bail to jailed Ruhinda County Member of Parliament (MP) Rtd.Captain Donozio Kahonda, pending hearing of his appeal challenging a 9-month imprisonment, the legislator was detained on similar charges.
MP Kahonda still has pending charges before Luweero Chief Magistrate Charles Sserubuga in which he is also charged with uterring forged documents, to obtain admission at Ndejje University where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Guidance and counselling.
He now returns to Luweero court next Tuesday August 01, 2017.
If the High Court does not overturn MP Kahonda’s conviction, he stands to lose his seat in parliament because the law states that once a sitting MP is convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to a six months imprisonment term, his seat automatically falls vacant.
Justice Luswata had released Kahonda Thursday on a court bond of Sh100 million while his three surities also signed bond of sh300 million to ensure that Kahonda returns to court for the prosecution of his appeal.
The judge had ruled that Kahonda is a responsible citizen who cannot abscond, and that he has a pending appeal before her which will commence hearing on August, 28.
Kahonda was on June 08, 2017 convicted and jailed by Jinja Chief Magistrate’s Court after finding him guilty of fradulently obtaining recruitment at the Millitary Academy in Jinja.
Chief magistrate Francis Kaggwa convicted Kahonda on several charges including impersonation, forgery and uttering false documents.
The legislator, according to court, committed the offence in November 2011 when he is said to have uttered a false O’level certificate in the names of Dickson Mutabazi for purposes of being admitted in the Millitary academy.
However, Capt. Kahonda has since appealled the lower court ruling saying he is being politically witch-hunted having defeated Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Maj.Gen.Kahinda Otafiire in the Ruhinda County MP race.
