Gulu High Court has granted bail to four MPs and 8 other suspects who were arrested on August 13th for participating in election campaign violence in Arua in which President Yoweri Museveni’s motorcade was allegedly attacked.
Those granted bail include MPs Robert Kyagulanyi, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, Arua MP Elect Kassiano Wadri, as well as a former MP for Makindye, Mike Mabikke.
These along with 7 others were the first batch of the 33 suspects to be granted bail by Justice Stephen Mubiru of the Gulu High Court.
The Court released the suspects on a Shs 5 Million non-cash bond each, while each of their sureties were placed on a Shs 10Million bond.
The sureties included politicians and relatives of the accused persons. They included, among others, Mugisha Muntu, Eddie Yawe, Winnie Kiiza, Betty Aol Ochan, Barnabas Tinkasimire, Sulaiman Kidandala and Charles Serunjogi Musoke.
Meanwhile, Justice Mubiru, declined a prosecution request for court to hold onto the passports of the bailed suspects, stating that some of these may need to travel for medication, and that having to pick them in Gulu would be a big inconvenience.
Arua Municipality MP Kassiano Wadri was denied access to Arua District for a minimum of three months on the ground that his presence would interfere with ongoing investigations. This was in line with a request made by the state as a condition for the bail application.
In case he needs to meet with his constituents, the judge said, he would need to seek court permission.
