Treason case against FDC officials adjourned

By Juliet Kigongo   (email the author)

Posted  Monday, January 23  2012 at  12:57

The case in which three officials of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change party are charged with treason in connection with the Walk to Work protests was Monday morning extended for three weeks to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Richard Buteera, to examine their police file.

The three, FDC’s women leader Ms. Ingrid Turinawe, Francis Mwijukye, the head of the FDC youth wing, and Mr. Sam Mugumya, a Political Assistant to Dr Kizza Besigye appeared before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court presided over by Ms. Esta Nambayo for mention of their case. Their bail was however extended to February 13.

The three are part of the 15 opposition supporters arrested last year for planning the walk-to-work protests, an act the Police Chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said amounted to treason.

Ms. Turinawe was last week charged before Kasangati Magistrate’s Court over failure to comply with orders of a police officer and two traffic violations: inconsiderate use of a public road, and driving a vehicle in a dangerous mechanical condition.

Mr. Mwijukye has since complained over what he calls “harsh” bail conditions that confine him to his village home in Ankole region, Western Uganda, from where he must seek police permission before travels.

According to the charge sheet the suspects allegedly mobilized the launching of simultaneous riots countrywide until government is overthrown.