Masaka Chief Magistrate Deogratius Ssejjemba has Tuesday released Lwemiyaga county Member of Parliament Theodore Ssekikubo on bail after four days in custody following his arrest on offences of inciting violence and illegal possession of a gun.
Ssekikubo was released on a noncash bail of 10 million Shillings, while his five sureties who included; MPs Barnabas Tinkansimire, Anifa Kawooya, Mary Kabanda, Florence Namayanja and Lwemiyaga sub-county councillor Johnstone Kamugisha were also executed on a non-cash bond of 25 million each Shillings.
On Monday, Ssekikub's lawyers and supporters were shocked when the State slapped fresh charges of illegal possession of a gun, obstruction of police officers on duty, destruction and damage of National Resistance Movement-NRM party election materials and inciting violence dating from August 2010.
However, the former rebel MP pleaded not guilty to all charges and applied for Bail, through his lawyers led by Medard Lubega Ssegona. Sekikubo applied for bail on Monday arguing that despite being a public figure and with known places of abode, he has never failed to appear before any court, whenever summoned.
Ssegona told Court, that his client had been arrested on totally different charges of inciting farmers in Lwemiyaga county to defy a cattle quarantine, but was surprised when prosecution presented totally different charges against him on Monday.
He further argued that Ssegona the charges brought against his client were presented before the courts and dismissed in 2010, over lack of evidence, arguing that they could not stand without proper reinstatement procedures by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
However, Amina Akasa, the Assistant District State Attorney challenged the bail application, telling Court that the accused person does not respect court processes and order, but failed to adduce evidence that he has ever defied any court summons in the matters before court.
The magistrate in his ruling observed that Ssekikubo had produced substantial witnesses to the satisfaction of the court thereby warranting his release on bail.
The MP was also directed to report back on February 18, for the hearing of the case.
