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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Law Development Centre-LDC court has granted bail to Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura and Soroti District Woman Member of Parliament, Annah Adeke.
The two together with former Mbale District Woman MP aspirant Margaret Wokuri Madanda, Susan Nanyonjo, Mariam Kizito, and Alice Among were arrested last week for inciting violence.
They were protesting the continued increase in prices of commodities in the country.
On Tuesday, the court presided over by the Acting Chief Magistrate Augustine Alule granted each of the accused persons one million shillings cash bail and asked each of their sureties who included relatives and politicians to execute a non-cash bond of 10 million shillings.
This followed a successful application by their lawyers led by Erias Lukwago who argued that the accused persons are still presumed innocent until proven guilty and that they are responsible people in society.
State Attorney Joy Apolot had no objection to bail save for asking for stringent terms.
In his ruling, Alule observed that the sureties presented by the accused persons are all substantial.
Referring to the decision delivered by High Court Judge Michael Elubu on Monday in Dr. Kizza Besigye’s case against the State, Alule said it was held that the court should not impose tough conditions for bail, because bail is not a punishment but a constitutional right.
Alule presided over proceedings under tight security. He was guarded by three policemen.
Prior to the bail ruling, supporters of the accused persons who had filled the court premises had started protesting the delayed start of court proceedings.
Lukwago said they are happy with the decision to grant his clients bail but the money imposed was high. He however said that they will challenge the decision in the High Court.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga said that the issue of courts demanding huge sums of money for bail is becoming rampant and promised to take the matter to the Attorney General for redress.
On Monday, the former Forum for Democratic Change Party President Dr. Kizza Besigye was granted bail on similar charges.
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