By Andrew Irumba
The Gulu Chief Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon remanded the newly elected Arua Municipality MP Kassiano Ezati Wadri, Paul Mwiru (Jinja East Mun.), Gerald Karuhanga (Ntungamo Mun., Mike Mabike and 33 others to Gulu Main Prison till 30th August.
The MPs were charged with Treason, contrary to Section 23 of the Penal Cord Act.
State prosecutors told court that the suspects on Monday this week, “with intent to harm the person of the President of Uganda, unlawfully aimed and threw stones, thereby hitting and smashing the rear windscreen of the Presidential car.”
The suspects were not permitted to take plea on the charges, given the fact that the charges against them can only be heard in a higher court.
In a fully parked court room, the suspects’ lawyers informed court that the accused were badly beaten during their arrest and detention, and that some of them needed urgent medical attention.
Indeed some of the suspects appeared in court in apparent severe pain and being helped to walk.
Counsel Medard Lubega Ssegona told court, “We have a number of clients that were badly beaten and tortured during the process of arrest and detention by SFC soldiers. They are in dire need of medical attention, as you observe some cannot stand.”
Among those that needed urgent attention, Segona said included one Night Asara, “who we believe her internal organs were badly damaged and is bleeding through her private parts.”
According to the lawyer, other suspects Shaban Atiku, Ddamba Tumusiime and Jane Abola were badly beaten, and couldn’t stand and could only sit with extreme difficulty,
“These cannot walk without support, they cannot sit because of what we believe is internal bleeding. They need urgent attention,”he said.
Other suspects, including MPs Gerald Karuhanga and Paul Mwiru, the lawyers said, were also severely beaten, and needed to go to hospital and seek professional medicare.
“These have received some treatment from police, but this isn’t sufficient. They were advised to do limb x-ray by the police medical department,” he submitted.
The Magistrate, in his ruling, directed prison authorities at Gulu Main Prison to avail the suspects for proper medical examination, at a facility of their choice at their cost
The matter was adjourned to 30th August when they will return to court.
Meanwhile Hon. Robert kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and Hon.Zaake Francis were not produced in any court on Thursday as earlier communicated by deputy prime minister Gen.Moses Ali on floor of parliament on Wed.
