By Our Reporters
Chief Justice Bart Katurebe has categorically stated that the Judiciary he leads won’t be intimidated to listen to what the President wants them to do regarding bail for suspects. On Thursday as he spoke during the budget reading, the President rebuked Judges and police for releasing suspects on either bail or police bond saying this wasn’t good especially for people suspected to have committed murder. A tough-talking Museveni turned to look Katureebe in the eye and said “this must stop.” He insisted people suspected to have murdered others should forget about bail and ordered Judges to automatically deny bail to such people. Museveni was commenting on the violent crimes like murder which have lately been rampant in Uganda where many have been kidnapped and eventually murdered. Arua MP Ibrahim Abiriga, a staunch Museveni supporter, is the latest victim having been murdered the previous Friday as he returned to his Kawanda home from work. In a media release from his office last evening, Katureebe said bail is granted or denied depending on what the law says and on what the judges consider appropriate as opposed to what the President wants. He explained that the right to bail is at the very heart of the right to fair hearing whereby one is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Katureebe’s statement implied that arbitrary denial for bail creates an impression that one is guilty already before even being heard. The statement quotes Article 28 and other provisions of the constitution that create that right to bail. Katureebe, whose guidance was unanimously commended by Ugandans on social media as courageous and prudent, disclosed to the President that the judges can only deny bail either if the circumstances warrant so (they have discretion) or if the law is amended to reflect that denial which for them can only put to implementation as reflected in the law at that particular time. However, city lawyer Nicholas Opio says, because he knows the consequences including isolation by tourists and investors plus international condemnation, Museveni is very unlikely to risk amending the constitution to scrap non-derogable rights including right to bail and habeas corpus. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755.
