Kasese NUP members fail to raise bail cash

Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Five members of the National Unity Platform-NUP in Kasese on Monday were sent back to prison after failing to secure money for their bail.

Justice Okumu Jude Muwone had earlier ordered the members who were arrested for alleged treason to pay 500,000 Shillings each as a condition for their bail.

The suspects are Bryan Basisa, the NUP Kasese district chairperson, Geoffrey Bwambale, the NUP coordinator for Bundibugyo, Atanazio Isande from Ntoroko district, Isaac Mumbere-the former NUP candidate for Nyamwamba division in Kasese, and Oniz Kule, a boda boda rider from Hima town.

Security arrested the suspects last month from Kilembe quarters where they were reportedly conducting a meeting.  All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and asked the court to grant them bail.

On Monday Justice Muwone said he had listened to the bail applications and that the state had not advanced any reasons why the accused should be denied bail.

However, Muwone compelled the accused persons to pay 500,000 shillings each in cash and their sureties to execute their bond of 10 Million shillings each not cash.

However, the accused failed to raise the money and were taken back to Mubuku prisons until January 12.

The accused’s lawyer Emmanuel Kironde of Kikomeko and Co Advocates said that his clients could not raise the money on time because some of them had money in their bank accounts.

However, he said he was working out modalities with the families to ensure the money is raised and his clients are released.

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URN