Besigye’s cash bail reviewed from Shs30m to Shs3m
By Juliet Kigongo and Ruth Anderah
High Court judge Micheal Elubu has reviewed former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye’s bail from Shs30 million to Shs3 million cash in a case in which he’s accused of incitement to violence
According to the judge, the Shs30 million set by Buganda Road Court grade one magistrate, Siena Owomugisha, as one of the bail conditions for the political activist was harsh and excessive given the case at hand.
He said that since the offence of incitement to violence attracts a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of Shs1.440 million, the cash bail condition cannot be set at Shs30 million which is considered too high.
“The trial magistrate correctly stated that bail terms imposed should be a safeguard that once released on bail, the accused will return for his trial. That is as it should be. However, taking all circumstances of the case into consideration, it is my considered opinion that the learned trial magistrate exercised her discretion with a material irregularity when she set the bail condition at Shs30 million. This condition was manifestly harsh and excessive. It therefore, occasioned a miscarriage of justice,” the judge said.
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