Amuriat, Two MPs Granted Shs32m Bail in Soroti Protest Case
The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Soroti has granted bail to Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat, Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo Acom, Soroti City West MP Jonathan Ebwalu, and three other political activists who were arrested over the “No Cow, No Vote” protest.
Presiding magistrate Hilda Bakanansa Walaga ruled that each of the six accused be released on a cash bail totalling Shs32 million, while their sureties were bound to non-cash obligations of Shs 10 million each.
The ruling followed a two-day legal battle that drew national attention, with lawyers for the accused arguing that their clients were being politically persecuted for demanding cattle compensation for the Teso sub-region.
The six granted bail include Amuriat, MPs Alobo and Ebwalu, Sam Acaitum, an FDC mobiliser and assistant to MP Alobo, Sylus Emesu, an FDC activist, and Agalamu Albert, a youth activist.
They had been remanded to Soroti Government Prison on Monday after their initial bail application was blocked due to incomplete surety documentation, as argued by State Attorney Paul Okello.
The prosecution has filed 20 charges across four case files, including burning public roads, unlawful assembly, obstructing traffic, and assaulting a police officer.
The state alleges that on March 7, 2025, the accused set motorcycle tyres on fire, hurled stones on roads, and disrupted traffic in Soroti City.
MPs Ebwalu and Alobo also face older charges from January 2024 over another protest.
Despite opposition from the prosecution, Magistrate Walaga ruled that the accused had met the legal requirements for bail. The hearings were scheduled for March 21 and March 31.
Defence lawyer Moses Okot Bitek Jr welcomed the ruling but criticised the Shs32 million bail, calling it a financial punishment against opposition leaders. He accused the state of using legal tactics to drain opposition figures and urged the public to support them.
The "No Cow, No Vote" campaign has gained momentum in Teso, with opposition leaders demanding full compensation for cattle lost during past conflicts.
While the government acknowledges delays in the process, opposition politicians have vowed to maintain pressure ahead of the 2026 elections.
