Kasangati, 23rd/September/2014; A Vision Group journalist, Adrian Bwanika Bbaale has on 23rd September, asked court to dismiss a case in which the Kasangati based police accuses him of ‘Disobedience of lawful orders’. This was after the State Attorney prosecuting the matter failed to turn-up in court.
Bwanika, through his lawyers Catherine Anite and Kirabira Tonny Raymond prayed to the Grade 2 Magistrate Court at Kasangati presided over by His Worship Okoth Richard Loo, to withdraw the charges as prosecution seems to have lost interest in the matter as evidenced by their absence in Court.
On the 2nd of September, Bwanika was arrested and remanded to jail on allegations that he disobeyed lawful orders of a police officer on duty, Detective Assistant Yaye Paul at Kasangaati police station in Wakiso district. Prosecution led by one Rachael told court on that date that investigations into the matter were complete, and accordingly, court fixed 23rd of September for the hearing.
The court adjourned the matter to 07th October, 2014.
“The State should withdraw this matter since it has failed to turn up to prosecute the case. The police should desist from instituting tramped up charges against journalists who seek and impart information deemed critical of the force.” said HRNJ-Uganda’s National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala.
