33 suspects charged with treason in the aftermath of Arua August 13th scenes that left one person dead, are appearing before Gulu Chief Magistrates court today.
Suspects include MP; Kassiano Wadri (Arua Municipality), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine (Kyadondo East), Paul Mwiru (Jinja East) Gerald Karuhanga (Ntungamo Municipality) and Former Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke, among others.
These were arrested on August 13th in Arua, on the last day of campaigns for the by-election to replace late hon. Col. Ibrahim Abiriga who was assassinated in June.
On the fateful day, Kassiano Wadri who was hosting the above mentioned MPs on this campaign trail is said to have caused the stoning of a presidential car as the head of state, President Yoweri Museveni left Arua Boma grounds where he had been campaigning for the NRM candidate Nusura Tiperu.
Tiperu would later lose to Wadri who was in jail at the time voting took place.
The MPs were arrested along with several other supporters and charged with treason, due to the attack on Mr. Museveni’s luggage car. The president argued that his convoy was stoned by a group of rowdy youth in the camp of now Hon. Wadri.
The MPs were granted bail by the Gulu High Court on August 27th, but ordered to honor the lower court where they were initially charged, and asked to return today, October 1st 2018.
Kyagulanyi who was arrested separately was initially charged in the military court for possession of a firearm after security officers allegedly found two guns in his hotel room. The charges were later dropped. It remains unclear where the guns came from, who they belonged to, or where they are to date.
The Kyadondo East MP was allegedly tortured by military officers who arrested him, forcing him to leave the country after receiving bail, for specialized treatment in US. He recently returned and is yet to fully recover. The MPs arrived at court by 9am.
