Ugandans across the divide were this morning excited about a court appearance of Arua Municipality MP Col Ibrahim Abiriga over recent viral pictures of him urinating in public.
But, Abiriga denied them satisfaction and shunned the Kampala City Hall Court where he was expected to answer to charges of committing a nuisance.
Abiriga had been summoned by Grade One magistrate Beatrice Khainza to appear before the court today; Friday, October 6, following the emergence of pictures showing him urinating in a public place, contrary to provisions of the Kampala City Council maintenance of law and order ordinance 2006.
The prosecution alleges that on September 27, 2017, along Kyaggwe Road in Kampala, Abiriga, a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM party, eased himself on the fence of Ministry of Finance. A picture of him went viral a day later causing a public uproar on the conduct.
Abiriga later acknowledged in a televised interview that he had failed to control himself because he was 'badly off'.
Today, on the expected appearance, Abiriga was represented by a lawyer Usaama Ssebuwufu. The lawyer told court presided over by Moses Nabende that Col Abiriga had travelled to his constituency in Arua, by the time the summons was issued.
Ssebuwufu pleaded that the matter is fixed on a later date when his client will be able to appear. The two parties resolved that the matter is adjourned to October 25.
According to the Kampala City Council maintenance of law and order ordinance 2006, a person commits a nuisance by easing himself or herself in any street or place where he or she may be seen by the public.
The ordinance prescribes a penalty of a fine not exceeding two currency points (40,000 Shillings) or imprisonment not exceeding two months or both for any person who contravenes any of its provisions.
