By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: Ntungamo Chief Chief Magistrate, Ms Sarah Mponye Kolya has further remanded the State Minister for Labour, Mr Mwesigwa Rukutana until September 15, 2020 when court will pronounce itself on his bail application.
Ms,Sarah, told former deputy attorney general Rukutana who is struggling with the charges of attempted murder, assault, malicious damage to property and threatening violence, that court still needed more time to study his bail application.
The magistrates decision came after Rukutana lawyers had presented sureties for bail that included former Minister for information Jim Muhwezi, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, prominent Rubaare businessmen Ali Muteeba and Bob Kabobero.
Talking to one of Rukutana’s lawyers, Mr Gaston Kamugisha, he revealed that The magistrates discretion was unfair. “We argued the case, made submissions and the state made theirs. We thought this was a simple case whose ruling should not have taken an hour but since it’s her discretion, we respect the law.”
The development comes after Rukutana who was arrested last week on September 5, 2020 together with his bodyguards was yesterday September 7, 2020 arraigned before Ntungamo Grade One magistrate Nasifah Namayanja and several charges read to him before being remanded to Kakiika prison.
It is alleged that Rukutana turned chaotic following his defeat to Naome Kabasharira, and grabbed a gun from one of his bodyguards and shot in his opponent’s crowd.
According to the charge sheets, Mwesigwa Rukutana and others still at large on September,5, 2020 at Kagugu village in Ntungamo district unlawfully attempted to cause the death of Daniel Rweburingi contrary to section 204(a) of the Penal Code Act.
“Minister is charged with assault and causing bodily harm onto one of his victims, threatening violence and malicious damage which he will answer tomorrow September 8, 2020,”charge sheet reads.
