The Kawempe Grade One Magistrate Court has granted bail to 23 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who were arrested on Monday. They faced charges of damaging a police vehicle, disrupting traffic, and causing a public nuisance.
The arrests took place at the NUP offices in Makerere Kavule, where party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) and other leaders were leading a procession to a rally for Elias Nalukoola, the party’s candidate in the Kawempe North by-election.
Court proceedings were briefly disrupted when one of the suspects, Olivia Katende, collapsed before the bail hearing. She was quickly taken to the hospital by ambulance, but the hearing continued under Magistrate William Muwonge.
Defense lawyer Benjamin Katana argued for the suspects’ release, citing minor charges and the need for urgent medical attention due to their violent arrest. However, the prosecution objected, stating there was no proof of torture and that some of the sureties lacked proper documentation.
Despite this, the court granted bail, noting visible signs of torture on some of the accused. The case is set for a further hearing on March 18, 2025.
Following the ruling, defense lawyer Samuel Muyizi announced plans to file an application seeking to have the case dismissed.
“We will pursue all legal avenues to ensure their complete freedom. Fortunately, they have been released, and we will take them to the hospital to gather further evidence. The court acknowledged that some of them had been tortured, and one had to be rushed to the hospital,” Muyizi stated.
