Josephine Maseruka
6 November 2009
Kampala — A total of 563 people accused of involvement in the September riots that rocked Buganda have been given bail. The Mengo state minister for information, Medard Lubega Ssegonna, one of the lawyers who offered free-legal aid to the suspects, said 65 of the accused were released on Wednesday.
Sseggona, in a telephone interview , added that his team was also trying to secure bail for 26 others, charged with terrorism, after their arrest in the three-day riots that engulfed Kampala and other areas in the central region in early September. About 600 suspects were arrested.
The riots broke out after the Police stopped the Buganda Katikkiro, J.B. Walusimbi, from visiting Kayunga in preparation for Kabaka Ronald Mutebi's visit to mark the annual youth day.
Over 25 people died in the riots and about 80 sustained injuries. Property, including Natete Police Station, was destroyed in the riots.
Ssegona's team was mobilised by Buganda kingdom officials who promised to offer free legal aid to the suspects.
The 15-lawyer team includes Mengo ministers for information and cabinet affairs, Charles Peter Mayiga, David Mpanga and the kingdom's attorney general, Apollo Makubuya.
Others are Damiano Lubega, a member of the Lukiiko (the kingdom's parliament), Erias Lukwago, the Kampala Central MP, Andrew Kasirye and Uthman Mulindwa of Kanyike, Mugerwa advocates.
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