"Let me Go to jail" Besigye declines to pay 30M cash bail, remanded to prison

Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president & leader of the People’s Front for Transition PFT,Col. Dr Kiiza Besigye has been remanded to Luzira prison after he declined to pay 30 million shillings cash bail.

Besigye was on Wednesday afternoon charged for incitement of violence over his recent protests against the escalated  commodity prices in the country at Arua Park within Kampala city centre, after he beat his security at his residence on Tuesday.

Besigye was arrested & spent a night at Naggalama police station but on Wednesday afternoon he was produced before Grade One Magistrate Siena Owomugisha.

While in court, Besigye denied the charges and in response, the state prosecutor, Joan Keko asked for more time to enable investigations be completed.

Besigye’s lawyers led by Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago later asked court to release his client on a non cash bail and to this, he presented two sureties including former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Wafula Oguttu and FDC deputy Secretary General, Harold Kaija.

However, the state prosecutor asked court not to grant bail to Besigye arguing that the sureties are not substantial whereas the accused would interfere with investigations into the case

She said that in case court is inclined to grant bail, Besigye should be ordered to pay a cash bail and other stringent terms.

The grade one magistrate consequently released Besigye on a shs30 million cash bond whereas each of his two sureties were asked to pay shs70 million non-cash for bond.

Court was later adjourned to June 13 for mention of the case.

However Dr. Besigye whispered to his lawyer, Erias Lukwago that he would not accept to abide by the bail terms in which he had been asked to pay shs30 million non-cash.

According to Lukwago, Besigye opted to go to prison but tasked his lawyers to appeal against the shs30 million cash bond in a higher court which prompted the trial grade one magistrate remand Dr. Besigye to Luzira Prison.