Hearing of a cyber-harassment case against the jailed Makerere University researcher Dr. Stellah Nyanzi has flopped today before Buganda Road court, due to the absence of trial magistrate.
Grade One Magistrate Robert Mukanza pushed the case to March 20th.
“Due to the absence of the trial magistrate, the matter us adjourned until March 20th for hearing,” Mukanza said.
About a fortnight ago, the trial Grade One Magistrate, Gladys Kamasanyu dismissed Nyanzi’s application in which she sought to have the charges against her dismissed on grounds that they were defective.
The magistrate fixed March 1st to begin hearing the evidence from the prosecution witnesses.
Nyanzi is charged with offenses of Cyber harassment and offensive communication in which prosecution says she used her official Facebook to attack the privacy of president M7 and his late mother Esteri Kokundeka in September last year .
Nyanzi has been on remand since November last year after she refused to exercise her right to apply for bail.
Prosecution alleges that on September 16th, 2018, Nyanzi posted on her Facebook page indecent words against the president and his late mother.
According to the prosecution, the said posts were intended to disturb their peace, quiet and right to privacy.
According to the law, any person who wilfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 24 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.
