Gulu High Court Judge Stephen Mubiru has this morning granted bail to Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake who has been on a weeklong remand in Gulu Prison for treason charges.
This stems from the August 13th 2018 events in Arua where a group of legislators led by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine allegedly led a group of rowdy youths that attached the president’s convoy and stoned one of the cars.
Zaake was not included on the origina charge sheet with his colleagues after police claimed he had escaped from lawful custody, but would later be arrested two weeks ago and charged separately last week.
However, while appearing before High Court Judge Stephen Mubiru today, Zaake was granted temporary freedom on a non-cash bail of 5 million Shillings, while each of his sureties who included his wife Namirembe Bridget Ndagire, Butambala County Member of Parliament Muwanga Kivumbi and one Daniel Mugambwa was granted a non-cash bond of 10 Million Shillings.
Meanwhile, Patrick Omiya Gulu Resident State Attorney’s attempt to prevent the bail saying MP Zaake is known for skipping lawful summons for which he was charged in Arua last week was sustained by the judge.
Zaake’s Lawyers Tony Kitara and Henry Komakech Kilama told court the suspect had a fundamental right to bail.
Mubiru ruled that the young MP should report to court every month with effect from March 14, until the case is committed for High Court trial.
After the ruling, Zaake said he was grateful for the bail. He however was quick to say the case against his was bogus.
“I am a person who is law abiding and we believe in truth and justice. The way they arrested me was uncalled for, you just have to summon a member of parliament. Come on, whatever they have put on me, those are bogus cases, I will be there, I will be looking at them as they dismiss their case, because they are bogus, they cannot take them anywhere.
