DPP slaps more charges against former RCC Anderson Burora 

The director of public prosecutions (DPP) has slapped additional charges against former Rubaga Division deputy resident city commissioner (RCC), Herbert Anderson Burora.

Burora on Friday appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court presided over by chief magistrate, Ronald Kayizzi. Court heard that between March and June 2024 in the areas of Kampala district or thereabout while using a computer and X handle, ‘@HarderHB’ shared malicious information about speaker of parliament Anita Annet Among showing that Among was a torturer, murderer, kidnapper, and corrupt.

According to the prosecution, the information is likely to ridicule, degrade, or demean and promote hostility against Among. Burora however denied the charges against him and applied for bail. He presented Yasin Katwere the managing director of Success Motors also his cousin brother and his wife Georgina Burora as some of his sureties.

The prosecution asked to be given more time to verify the documents presented by his sureties. Earlier, court ruled on the application in which Burora’s lawyers including David Kamukama and Benjamin Katana wanted the court to dismiss the initial charges. The lawyers said the charge sheet was defective.

The lawyers contested the charge sheet saying it didn’t disclose the particulars of the offense and how he committed it. They argued that the charge sheet did not state what exactly the accused had said against the Among. However, the prosecution’s Richard Birivumbuka asked the court to dismiss the application on the basis that the charge sheet was properly filed before the court and that it wasn’t incurably defective.

The chief magistrate agreed with the prosecution saying in drafting the charge sheet, the state had to only describe the said document by its name as per Section 88(n) of the Magistrates Court Act.

“It did not have to mention all its contents in the charge sheet. Source codes are matters of evidence to be adduced during the trial. This court finds that much of what the defense wants to be included in the charge sheet is evidence and this will be adduced during the trial,” ruled Kayizzi.

However, to satisfy the defense, court directed the prosecutors to amend the charge sheet and add words that constitute hate speech and those that constitute malicious information. The magistrate condemned the approach or strategy by Burora’s lawyers. He said it contributed greatly to the long incarceration of Burora without being granted bail.

“I hold a view that the priority of the defense legal team would have been to apply for bail for their client and then object to the legality of the charge sheet after their client was admitted on bail,” said Kayizzi.

He added that “once the accused pleaded to the charges, objecting to the legality of the charge sheet would have come after the bail application”

Burora was further remanded to Luzira Prison where he has been for nine days until Friday next week July 19. Burora had served as a Deputy RCC for more than five years in both Nakawa Division and Rubaga. His troubles started around March 2024 when he started posting information condemning corruption in parliament allegedly perpetrated by Among.

He was suspended from office in a March 14, 2024 letter to pave the way for investigations. Burora chose to resign on March 18 saying he wanted to protect his conscience.