The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Shadow Cabinet has called for expeditious investigations and trial of Kassanda South MP, Frank Kabuye, who was arrested on Thursday last week in connection to the death of a student at Makerere University.
The legislator was picked up together with three others and detained at the Central Police Station in Kampala after the death of Michael Bentungura Bewatti, a law student at Uganda Christian University (UCU).
Bentungura was stabbed to death in a scuffle involving the supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) parties during the Makerere University guild campaigns. The students had convened for a campaign rally ahead of the guild elections scheduled for July 15th, 2022.
On Sunday, police allowed NUP legislators and lawyers to meet Kabuye, who doubles as the Shadow Minister for Youth. In his statement after the visit, Joel Ssenyonyi, the NUP Spokesperson said that their efforts to secure the legislator’s release on police bond were futile, allegedly due to the ongoing police investigations.
Joyce Bagala, the Shadow Minister for Information told journalists in a media briefing at Parliament on Monday, that they do not have details of the charges against the legislator. She however noted that the Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa has already taken up the matter.
Patrick Nsanja, the Ntenjeru South MP said that the continued detention of Kabuye without charge or trial violates the Constitution. He noted that the legislator remains a suspect, arguing that if he has a case, police are required to produce him before court since he has been in detention for more than 48 hours.
Geoffrey Kayemba, the Bukomansimbi South MP, said that it was unfortunate that their colleague has been in police custody since Thursday and no charges have been preferred against him. “We are calling upon the government to release the MP and other political prisoners,” said Kayemba. Bagala revealed that the Shadow Cabinet was to hold a sitting on Tuesday to discuss the matter and come up with a resolution.
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