UGANDA: COURTS SET TOUGH BAIL TERMS FOR PRA SUSPECTS

UNCLAS KAMPALA 001346 SIPDIS SENSITIVE C O R R E C T E D COPY (CAPTION ADDED ONLY) SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS ASEC PINS PHUM UG SUBJECT: UGANDA: COURTS SET TOUGH BAIL TERMS FOR PRA SUSPECTS REFERENCE: KAMPALA 2110 AND PREVIOUS -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The High Court in Mbarara granted bail and released two suspected Peoples Redemption Army (PRA) rebels charged with murder on August 16. The court imposed a new condition, requiring each suspect to have three individuals deposit land titles as a guarantee for bail. The suspects are part of the group charged with treason alongside Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Seven other PRA suspects in Arua remain in jail because they are unable to meet the terms of bail for their release. In both cases, the suspects had spent three years in prison on murder, treason, and terrorism charges. The courts were within their discretionary powers to require three separate land title guarantees for granting bail. However, depositing a land title as a guarantee is questionable since the courts are aware that most land in Uganda is unregistered. End Summary. -------------- Court Sets Tough Bail Conditions -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On August 16, the High Court in Mbarara granted bail to two PRA suspects, Frank Atukunda and Robert Darius Baguma Tweyambe, both charged with murder. Each suspect was required to pay cash bail of USD 1,156 and deposit three land titles as a bond guarantee. The Court also required a promissory note of USD 36,000 for each suspect in order to grant their release. The suspects will be required to report to Bushenyi Chief Magistrates' Court on the third Friday of every month. -------------- Arua Suspects Remain in Jail -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Meanwhile, seven other PRA suspects of the same group remain in jail in Arua after they failed to fulfill the bail conditions. The suspects were granted bail on July 30 (Reftel). Lead defense counsel admitted that it was impossible to conceive that a group of persons who were not in gainful employment could be in position to raise the bail money. Each suspect would have to pay USD 1,200 in cash in order to be released. The Arua court has not required land titles as part of the terms of bail. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) FDC leader Besigye told Emboff that he was surprised by the new conditions requiring land titles that were set by the court. He noted that this was the first time in Uganda that a deposit of a land title was a condition of granting bail. End Comment. BROWNING