Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court in Kampala has granted bail to novelist, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.
Kakwenza was arrested on December 28th from his home for allegedly abusing President Museveni and the Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba using his twitter.
Last week, Kakwenza’s lawyers led by Eron Kiiza asked court to release him on bail citing his medical condition after being tortured by security during and after his arrest.
The state however asked the court not to release him citing jeopardizing of ongoing investigations into the matter.
Today, Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Dr. Douglas Singiza reasoned with the defence lawyers arguing that owing to the circumstances of the case, he is inclined to release the writer on bail.
Dr.Singiza said in a short ruling said the accused person has presented credible sureties some of whom are lawyers while others are political leaders of one of the political parties.
He directed that Kakwenza pays shs500,000 in cash as bond whereas each of the sureties for the author pays shs 10 million non-cash as bond.
The presiding Chief Magistrate also directed that Kakwenza deposits his passport with the court for a period of six months as the hearing continues but noted this will be reviewed with time.
Dr. Singiza said whereas the Principal Judge directed that national IDs for sureties should not be retained by courts while granting bail, the same directive didn’t say anything about passports and travel documents for accused persons.
