City Hall Court has dismissed a case of Taking Part in Unlawful Assembly against three Civil Society Activists who were arrested from Hotel Eliana in Ntinda in connection to AntiCorruption protests that were held in Kampala in July/2024.
Presiding Senior Grade One Magistrate Edgar Karakire has dismissed the case after Prosecution’s Hanifa Kasana failed to bring witnesses to testify against the accused persons; Pato Denis, Kalenda Abigail and Nalunkuma Ruth who have been reporting to Court in company of their Lawyer Paul Wasswa.
The Magistrate has ordered that the accused persons be discharged and their bail refund totalling to 1.5 million shillings be refunded to them.
On 24th/July/2024 is when they were arrested over what they describe as an infringement on their freedom of expression; adding that they were simply holding a press conference intended to calm down the protestors.
The trio are affiliated with the youth-focused organisation Vijana Corps.
“I would have said that we are happy that the case has been dismissed. Nevertheless, there is still relief. However, there is a reason why I don’t want to say that we are happy because this case has been a ” bogus” case . It’s been a total waste of taxpayers’ money and our time and this kind of case is against freedom of expression and the media ” Said Denis Pato, one of the accused
