Nyanjura, Four Others Freed on Bail After Three Weeks in Luzira

Presiding magistrate Winnie Nankya released them on non-cash bail of Shs500,000 each, with their sureties required to post a non-cash bond of Shs1 million.

KAMPALA – The Buganda Road Court has granted bail to Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura and four others after they spent three weeks on remand at Luzira Prison on charges of public nuisance.

Presiding magistrate Winnie Nankya released them on non-cash bail of Shs500,000 each, with their sureties required to post a non-cash bond of Shs1 million.

The court granted bail after finding the sureties substantial, despite objections from the prosecution.

Lead prosecutor Allan Mucunguzi argued that the sureties could not guarantee that the accused would return to court, describing them as "too rowdy" to be compelled.

However, defence lawyers protested the remarks as demeaning and successfully convinced the court that the sureties were credible.

The other accused include opposition mobiliser and women league icon Ingrid Turinawe, Faridah Nangonzi, Phiona Kyabayinza, and Shadia Namubiru.

They were arrested along Ben Kiwanuka Street in Kampala while protesting the continued detention of opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye.

Their bail hearing had initially been scheduled for last week but flopped after they reportedly refused to leave the remand home without their activism T-shirts, which bear messages in support of Dr Besigye.

Supporters of the opposition group Freedom packed the courtroom, awaiting the ruling. Upon their release, they erupted into celebratory political songs, cheering their colleagues’ freedom.

The accused are expected back in court on April 23.