Bobi Wine asks court to expedite trial in social media tax protest case

Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine has asked Buganda road magistrates court to expedite the case in which he is accused of disobeying police orders.

Bobi Wine was early this year arrested for disobeying statutory orders and held a demonstration in the city centre in 2018 against the new social media tax.

On Monday, when the case came up for hearing, the state prosecutor, Barbra Kyomugisha told court they had not summoned witnesses because one of the accused was not present in court.

They asked for an adjournment.

However, through his lawyers led by Luyimbaazi Nalukoola, Bobi Wine asked court to compel the state to expedite the trial.

“The prosecution side should be asked to produce all the witnesses for the case to be disposed of quickly because justice delayed is justice denied,”Nalukoola told court.

“The accused are ready to be tried and it is now the prosecution delaying everything.”

The trial magistrate, Ketty Acaa Joan adjourned the matter to September 17 for hearing to kick off.

Drama

There was drama in court when Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, Bobi Wine’s brother who is also among the accused survived having criminal summons issued against him.

The state prosecutor asked court to issue criminal summons for the third accused who was not yet in court.

However, a few minutes to the end of the court session, Nyanzi showed to the amazement of everybody before proceeding to join his co-accused in the dock.

“You have survived to have criminal summons issued against you because the matter has now been overtaken by events,” the trial magistrate said jokingly prompting everyone in court to burst into laughter.

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Speaking after the case, Bobi Wine said such cases are meant to weaken them as “freedom fighters” but noted the same will not divert them.

“We will not be diverted by anything. If they have evidence against me, let them produce it,”Kyagulanyi retorted.

The case

Bobi Wine is accused together with his brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, Julius Katongole, David Lule, Edward Sebuufu also known as Eddie Mutwe and others still at large of disobedience of statutory duty contrary to section 116 of the Penal Code Act an offence committed in July 2018.

Prosecution alleges that the group disobeyed section 5 and 10 of the Public Order Management Act 2013 by holding a public meeting without giving notice to any authorised officer.

They have since denied the charges and granted bail.

The charges against the group are in connection with a protest he led against Over the Top Tax (OTT) commonly known as social media tax and mobile money tax that had been introduced by government last year.