Drama in court as promoter Bajjo pleads guilty to threatening to overthrow Museveni

Drama ensued  at the Chief Magistrates Court along Buganda Road when event promoter, Andrew Mukasa, also known as Bajjo Events pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to overthrow President Museveni before 2021 but later backtracked.

Mukasa, who was arrested on Saturday was on Tuesday arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Stella Amabilis and two charges of inciting violence and offensive communication were read to him.

The music promoter whose charges were being read in Luganda denied inciting violence but admitted the charge of offensive communication in which he threatened to overthrow President Museveni.

However, there was drama as Bajjo’s lawyers led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago pleaded to the magistrate to charge the plea arguing that the accused had not understood the charges to which he had pleaded guilty.

“While translating for him, the particulars of the offence were not translated. It would be a miscarriage of justice for a plea of guilty to be entered without a proper translation,” the repentant Lukwago told the Chief Magistrate.

There was a heated argument as the Chief Magistrate insisted that the accused had clearly understood before pleading guilty to the charges read to him by the court clerk.

“He is the one who pleaded guilty and I don’t want anyone talking now. I know he understood well before pleading. Because of that, I have entered a plea of guilty,”Amabilis said.

However, it took the remorseful Lukwago to plead with the magistrate not to take the decision saying his client had just answered without clearly understanding the content of the charges.

“Your worship, I humbly pray this does not happen. It was an ambiguous plea.”

However, the Buganda Road chief magistrate was lenient enough to change her decision and adjourned the matter to next week until a proper Luganda interpreter is got.

“You will have to return on Tuesday when we have got a translator who clearly understands the language,”Amabilis said.

She adjourned the matter to Tuesday June 25 when Bajjo will take plea.

He was consequently remanded to Luzira.

Charges

Andrew Mukasa, 29 is accused of incitement of violence contrary to section 83(i) of the Penal Code Act.

Prosecution alleges that Mukasa during the month of June 2019  at various places including Masaka, Mbarara, Ibanda and Kampala incited the public to do an act of violence against the person of the President by reasons of his political opinion.

Mukasa is also accused of offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011.

The state alleges that the accused during the month of June 2019 at various places including Masaka, Mbarara, Ibanda and Kampala willfully and repeatedly with intent to disturb the peace and privacy of the person of the President, recorded a video and posted it on social media.

The prosecution further alleges that the said video contained inciting messages that alleged that he was to overthrow the government of Uganda before 2021 with no purpose of legitimate communication.

On offensive communication, section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 says that any person who wilfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication whether or not a conversation ensues commits a misdemeanor.

That person is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-four currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.

Twenty four currency points is an equivalent of Shs480, 000 currently.