Suspected serial killer re-arrested after being granted bail by court
The Police Flying Squad Unit have re-arrested Baker Walusimbi, a suspected serial killer shortly after being released by the High court in Kampala on Wednesday.
Walusimbi was arrested in 2006 on charges of kidnapping , raping and murdering university girls whose bodies he would dump in bushes and thickets .
Walusimbi's trial had stalled for 13 years because the appointed court assessors assigned to follow his trial on behalf of the public didn't turn for the case.
Having spent 12 years on remand at Luzira Prison, Walusimbi was on Wednesday released on Shs 5 million non-cash bail by Justice Yasin Nyanzi who said that it would be unfair to continue keeping him on remand without a conviction on any offence.
Justice Nyanzi on Wednesday ordered that Walusimbi be released on bail as he awaits a fresh trial .
However,following his release,security operatives pounced on him before bundling him into a wauting civilian vehicle and drove off.
President Museveni recently warned the judiciary and police against giving bail and bond to murder suspects.
"There are two things I am not going to accept anymore; police bonds and bail. I don’t want to hear about them again. Somebody suspected of killing our people, you give him/her police bond? No way! This is not acceptable,” Museveni said at Serena conference centre during the reading of this year's budget.
The Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe responded to Museveni’s remarks saying the judiciary’s position on bail can only change when the law is amended.
“The issue of bail is governed by the Constitution and the law. Until the law is amended, bail will be granted or denied in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” said Katureebe in a statement.
He added, “Courts presume all accused persons are innocent until they are proven guilty in a trial and it is the very reason they have a right to apply for bail.”
According to the chief justice the courts have the discretion to grant or deny the bail applications by all suspects adding that the law provides adequate safeguards.
