Court to Use Video Conferencing in Bobi Wine Bail Application

By Wilson Kakuru Last updated May 2, 2019 1,661 0

Prison Officers in Luzira watching on screen events at Buganda road court via video conferencing system

The bail application of the Kyadondo East Legislator, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine will be heard through video conferencing facilities, the Nile Wires understands.

Dozens of people who thronged the courtroom this morning were dumbfounded to see judicial officer setting up the system, which was officially inaugurated last month.

Prison Officers in the male wing of Luzira Prisons could be seen on the huge screens at Buganda Road court arranging plastic seats for the hearing.

While launching the video conferencing facilities last month, the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe said it would be used for the mention of high profile cases.

The Commissioner of Uganda Prison Services, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija said the facility would help them cut the costs of bringing suspects to Court for the mention of their cases.

The Judiciary Spokesperson, Solomon Muyita has confirmed that Kyagulanyi will not appear in court in person.

“It’s true we are going to use Screens”, Muyita told this reporter.

Kyagulanyi will be the first suspect to be tried using this technology.

His lawyers led by Asuman Basalirwa who are already at court and relatives have questioned the decision of the judiciary to try Kyagulanyi using this technology.

Kyagulanyi was arrested from Mulago roundabout on April 29th, 2019 as he was heading to the CID headquarters in Kibuli to record a statement.

He was whisked off to Nagalama Police Station where he recorded a statement before he was dragged to Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate’s Court and charged with disobedience of statutory duty.

The charges date back to 2018 when the legislator and four others led a protest against the introduction Over the Top (OTT) tax for social media users.

Kyagulanyi pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to Luzira Prison until today for his bail application hearing.

There is a joint deployment of Military police, Local Defense Unit Unit Personnel, Field Force Unit and ordinary police officers outside Buganda road court.