Court releases former Tororo woman MP aspirant

DAVID OCHIENG

The high court in Mbale yesterday released former Tororo district woman NRM flag bearer, Jacinta Ayo who had been arrested after she failed to clear Shs 83 million in legal costs.

Ayo was arrested on Friday last week by court bailiffs in Kampala in execution of warrant of arrest dated 18th April 2019 after she was accused of delaying to pay court costs that resulted from election petition she lost to her counterpart in politics Sarah Achieng Opendi, the state minister of Health and General Duties.

But yesterday, her supporters camped at Mbale high court to see their candidate who was expected at the court.

Two hours later, Ayo finally arrived but the deputy registrar of Mbale high court, Lilian Mwanda who was supposed to preside over the case was nowhere to be seen.

The delay caused uneasiness and Ayo's supporters led by Uganda's ambassador to Kenya, Phoebe Otaala started protesting, calling for her release.

However later the registrar appeared and the session kicked off.

In court, Ayp through her Anthony Bazira, disputed the Shs 83.2million she was asked to pay court, saying they were only aware of  Shs 38 million.

They asked court to give them a chance to settle the matter out of court, a request which was granted.

In about an hour, the two parties then formalised the payment schedules.

Ayo made first instalment deposit of Shs 500,000 and she pledged to make the second payment of Shs 3 million  on May 14th 2019 and then subsequent pay of Shs 5 million on the 14th of every month. I

Later, Ayo was released.