Ugandan court issues arrest warrant for opposition leader

A Court in Kampala has issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and political activist Samuel Walter Mukaaku after the two allegedly fled from court in a case in which they are accused of incitement to violence, Dailymonitor reported.

The court’s senior magistrate, Asuman Muhumuza, was asked on Thursday to issue the arrest warrant for the duo after state prosecutor Ivan Kyazze said it had become “a habit for the accused to run away from court without any clear reason making it very difficult to conclude the case.”

However, the defense attorney, Mr. Musa Matovu, told the court that the defendant missed two court hearings because he traveled outside the country and therefore the lawyer and the defendants had lost track of the dates of the hearings.

The lawyer added that he appeared in court at one of the hearings but the trial judge was indisposed.

The state alleges that the duo, without any lawful excuse, held a meeting and addressed the public to incite them to protest, but this act may lead to violence and destruction of property.

However, both have since denied the charges.