KCCA speakers remanded over protest at parliament 

Two Kampala Capital City Authority(KCCA) division speakers have been remanded to Luzira prison until March 3 for allegedly staging an unlawful assembly. 

The speakers Charles Lwanga Lubya, of Makindye division, and Justus Akampulirwa, of Kawempe division, were arrested on Monday from parliament where they had gone to petition the speaker over the prolonged detention of National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters.

They were arrested alongside Najja Nasif, a councillor from Kawanda in Nabweru Division, Nasana Municipality, and Hamuza Kasozi, of Nansana Municipality. The group today Tuesday appeared before the City Hall grade one magistrate Edgar Karakire on charges of unlawful assembly.

Court heard that while at parliament yesterday, the group assembled with the intent to carry out a common purpose and conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause persons in the neighbourhood to fear and panic following a breach of their peace. 

But the accused persons denied the charges, and, through their lawyer, Nasser Kibazo asked to be released on bail. Karakire however adjourned the case on March 3 to allow him to study the bail documents and make a ruling on their application.

Since 2019, Ugandan security has been accused of arbitrarily arresting and abducting several youths especially supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP). Some of the released youth have come out of detention with hallowing tales of torture including being ordered to eat food from a toilet, being denied sleep, and their flesh being plucked off using pliers.