Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has deferred the hearing of a case in which Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi is accused of holding an illegal protest.
Grade One magistrate, Esther Nahirya on Monday adjourned the case until December 12, after one of Bobi Wine co-accused (David Lule) was a no show in court.
Bobi Wine is accused alongside David Lule (Disc Jockey), Julius Katongole (student), Fred Ssentamu Nyanzi (businessman and a brother to Bobi) and Edward Sebufu (barber).
This is the second time the case has failed to kick-off, despite witnesses being produced in court. The first time, Bobi Wine did not turn up in court and today it was his co-accused David Lule.
During the trial, state attorney Barbra Kyomugisha will prosecute the case while over six lawyers led by Asuman Basalirwa will defend Kyagulanyi and four others.
Bobi Wine is facing the charge of disobedience of statutory duty together with his brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, his bodyguard Edward Sebufu alias Eddie Mutwe, David Lule and Julius Katongole.
Prosecution alleges that Bobi Wine and his co-accused on July 11, 2018, at City Square in Kampala District, disobeyed Sections 5 and 10 of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) 2013 by holding a public meeting without giving notice to any authorized officer, holding a public meeting without adhering to the required criteria and refusing to cooperate with the police.
It is alleged that Bobi Wine who doubles as Kyadondo East MP was holding a meeting with his fans to protest against the introduction of new social media tax (OTT) of Shs200 daily and mobile money tax by government mid last year.
Addressing journalists after court, the pop star turned leading opposition figure, who has announced he is running for president against Mr Museveni in 2021 said his lawyers will challenge the Buganda Road Court case in the Constitutional Court.
“This case arises from trumped up charges to oppress us and scare any emerging dissent voices. This is not the first time such cases are brought against Opposition figures. President Museveni does this all the time to scare members of the Opposition because we’re trying to challenge him. We won’t give up,” he said.
“As you know, a petition challenging POMA was filed in the Constitutional Court and we’re still waiting for the court ruling. We were charged under this law but I’m hopeful that once the Constitutional Court quashes POMA, then this case (t Buganda Road Court) will not stand.”
