MBARARA – Imam Kagiko, a councilor representing Katete ward in Nyamitanga Division in Mbarara Municipality was on Monday charged with offensive communication under the computer misuse Act 2011, attacking and disturbing the person of Mbarara Municipality Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi.
State alleges that between the year 2016 up to 2019, while in Mbarara town Kakigo used electronic communication to disturb the peace and right to privacy of Kakyebezi without any legitimate purpose.
Kagiko was allowed to take plea and denied charges where a plea of not guilty was entered, but the grade one magistrate Daphine Ayebare stated that he has a right to apply for bail. Kagiko presented three sureties who included Doreen Natamba a councilor representing Kiswahili ward, Nicodemus Mujuni a councilor representing Kakoba ward and Amina Busingye one of the relatives.
Prosecution submitted by objecting a request to be granted bail on grounds that the matter before court is a sensitive matter and more investigations are still going on. “If granted bail given the fact that he has much influence in Mbarara, he might jeopardize investigations.
On sureties, state rejected sureties saying that one Amina Busingye did not avail court with her original national identity card, she prayed that court should not grant him bail.
In rejoinder Kagiko submitted that he is a people’s representative who respects law and the judicial system and cannot attempt to frustrate any investigations.
In her ruling, Ayebare noted that the accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. “He has presented sureties, and in this case there is no need for the accused to prove that they are not substantial, he is responsible person and a leader which compels him to come back if granted bail, I find two sureties substantial am also mindful about the nature of the case which is against another person in leadership, I hereby grant the accused person a cash bail of shs 300,000 and each surety with shs 500,000 none cash.
She later adjourned the case to 18 February 2019.
Kakyebezi after court said that he was tired with Kagiko’s allegations by accusing him of incompetence to hold the office of the mayor, embezzling council funds and selling of government land.
“He has been making such statements in public for a while but I said enough is enough am here to seek justice.”
