Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Rt. Col. Dr Kiiza Besigye has been remanded to Luzira prison after failure to pay 30 million shillings bail granted by Buganda Road Court. Besigye appeared before the court on Wednesday and was charged with incitement to violence.
This follows Tuesday’s events when Besigye beat security at his residence and addressed an assembly at Arua Park within Kampala City Centre.
Besigye who spent a night at Naggalama police station was on Wednesday produced before Grade One Magistrate Siena Owomugisha at about 4pm.
Clad in his usual blue checked hooded shirt and a back-parker, Besigye appeared composed in the dock as he even took it upon himself to correct the court record regarding his actual age of 66 years.
He then pleaded not guilty to one count of incitement to violence in which prosecution states that on May 24, 2022 at Arua Park -Munno Village in Kampala City, the accused without any lawful excuse at an assembly addressed members of the public implying that it would be desired for them to demonstrate, yet this act can result into violence and destruction of property.
It should be noted that since last week, Besigye is desirous to hold peaceful demonstrations in relation to the escalating prices of commodities in the country.
Besigye has presented two surieties ; the former Bukooli Central MP and LOP Wafula Ogutu and FDC deputy secretary General Harold Kaijja who have been described as his friends. The state prosecutor had however expressed concerns that Kaijja being a farmer has no capacity to compel Dr. Besigye to report to court.
After denying his request to personally address court, Besigye through his lawyer Lukwago asked court to consider earlier circumstances that led to his arrest on Tuesday before setting conditions for his bail release.
Besigye says despite a Constitutional court order that restrained police from imprisoning him at his home, he says since May 12, his liberty to free movement had been curtailed as police stopped him on three occasions from leaving his house under preventive arrest.
Besigye says since police has consistently violated his constitutional right to earn a living; he should not be given a cash bail.
This however did not persuade the magistrate who chose to grant Besigye 30 million shillings cash bail and sureties bonded at 70 million shillings not cash and ordered to return to court on July 16, 2022.
He however refused to pay the bail fees and was remanded to Luzira prison.
Besigyes lawyers say they will appeal Thursday for review of court’s terms.
