Human Rights Commission says MP Kyagulanyi to be arraigned in army court on Friday

The Uganda Human Rights Commission has said that authorities have told them Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine will be arraigned in the army court on Friday and not Thursday as earlier said.

Kyagulanyi was arrested on Tuesday in Arua following the Monday chaos that culminated into alleged stoning of President Museveni’s convoy by Kassiano Wadri’s supporters.

On Wednesday, The Deputy Prime Minister, Moses Ali told parliament that the legislator would be arraigned in the General Court Martial sitting in Gulu on Thursday.

“He was found with a gun and he will appear before the court martial in Gulu,” he said.

However, the director in charge of complaints, investigations and legal services in the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Ida Nakiganda has said they were told by authorities in Gulu that the incarcerated legislator would only be tried on Friday.

“We have been following the matter in Gulu and Arua.We were able to visit all the detained Members of Parliament apart from Kyagulanyi and Zaake,”Nakiganda told the Kyadondo East legislator’s family on Thursday.

“The commission has been told the Bobi Wine will be taken to court tomorrow (Friday) and not today (Thursday).”

She said that they despite not being able to see the two lawmakers to find out about their condition while in detention, they would not relent until they have been able to see them.

“A suspect has rights and we shall make all efforts to ensure they (Kyagulanyi and Zaake) are okay.”

Earlier, one of the lawyers representing the incarcerated MPs led by Asuman Basaalirwa and Medard Sseggona said they had tried to access Kyagulanyi at the Gulu military barracks but had not been successful.

““We have failed to see him. We’ve not been granted access so far,”Basaalirwa told journalists in Gulu.

““They are non- committal on whether he is here or not. What is clear is that we have been denied access to see or speak to him.”

Army insists

However, when contacted, the army spokesperson, Brig. Richard Karemire insisted that Kyagulanyi will be arraigned in court on Thursday.

“He will appear in court today. The day has not yet ended,”Brig.Karemire told the Nile Post.

When asked to comment on the likely charges, the army publicist said he could not speculate, "Charges will be known when the court sits".

Earlier, the General Court Martial team led by the chairman Lt.Gen. Andrew Gutti left Makindye for Gulu in a convoy.