A CASH BAIL OF SHS 5,000,000 OVER A HUMAN RIGHT IS UNBELIAVABLE

FDC Woman leader Ingrid Turinawe flashes her party sign shortly after being granted bail. Photo by Geoffrey Sseruyange
By Anthony Wesaka
Posted Monday, December 12 2011 at 15:01

Three Forum for Democratic Change officials facing treason charges arising from the walk to work protests have on Monday afternoon been released on a cash bail of Shs5 million each.
They include; FDC Women’s League, Ingrid Turinawe, Sam Mugumya, a political assistant to Dr Besigye, and Francis Mwijukye, the head of the FDC youth wing.
The trio who had spent close to two months on remand at Luzira, were released by Judge Anup Singh Choudry of the International Crimes Division of the High Court sitting Kololo.
Upon being released, the suspects flashed the FDC’s V sign and sung songs that were aimed at annoying the police.
Court was swarmed by high profile opposition politicians including FDC President Dr Kizza Besigye. Others were the leader of opposition in parliament Nandala Mafabi, Kyadondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemujju, Mathias Mpuuga, MP for Masaka Municipality who is also the coordinator of the walk to work, Abdu Katuntu, MP for Bugweri County, Retired Maj John Kazoora and former Ethics minister Maria Matembe.
Other conditions bail conditions set for the suspects include; not moving out of their residential places without the permission of the court and also depositing the passports with the court.
Shortly after the suspects were released, MP Mpuuga told Daily Monitor that these are signs of a failed government which it should accept that something is wrong instead of being arrogant.
The anti-terrorism Police deployed heavily in and outside the court premises to avert any melee that could arise.
Once found guilty of treason, the trio faces death by hanging.
Prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large, between the months of August and October 2011 in the districts of Kampala, Hoima, Wakiso, Mityana, and other places in Uganda contrived a plot to overthrow the government.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects allegedly mobilized the launching of simultaneous riots countrywide until the government is overthrown.
The hearing of their bail application comes barely a week after the police denied access to Makerere FDC students from matching to Luzira prison to check on Ms Turinawe.