The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has dismissed the charges of common nuisance charges against 14 members of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Katonga Faction including Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Ssemuju Nganda.
The charges were dismissed by the Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, after the prosecutors failed to produce witnesses in court to testify against the accused persons when the matter came up for hearing.
Others cleared include the Deputy Lord Mayor, Doreen Nyanjura, lawyer Wahab Musinguzi, Eric Wasswa, businesswomen, former head of FDC mobilization Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe, FDC Secretary General Harold Kaija, former Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume Kaginda, and Kabale Municipality MP Nicholas Kamara Thadeous among others
The group was on 5th August 2024 arraigned in court after being arrested for being rowdy, blocking walkways and inconveniencing the public at Katonga Road in Kampala Central.
They were marching to the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala, protesting the arrest of 36 FDC members in Kisumu in July 2024.
However, the prosecution failed to bring witnesses to pin them prompting the Magistrateto discharge them..
The 36 members, who were detained on terrorism charges but have since been given bail, were reportedly attending a training program when they were allegedly apprehended by Ugandan security operatives. FDC Chairman Amb. Wasswa Biriggwa, in a letter to the Kenyan High Commissioner, demanded answers and condemned the abduction, stressing the breach of trust and sovereignty.
The FDC called for immediate action from the Kenyan government to address the situation and ensure the rights of the detained leaders.
Report by: Betty Zziwa
