A Prison Warden has told Buganda Road Court that
jailed Makerere University Researcher Dr. Stellah Nyanzi refused to come out of
her prison cell to attend Court today.
ASP Brenda Fussy Habaasa however could not give to Court any reason or problem
be it health that might have stopped Nyanzi from attending Court, because
she is not even admitted at the Prison’s Sick Bay.
She explained that when she called out inmates this morning at the
women’s wing, Dr. Stella Nyanzi instead told her that
her Lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde refused her to go to Court.
In Court , her Lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde sent a clerk with a letter dated 16th/January/2019
indicating that Dr. Stellah Nyanzi ‘s Private Medical Doctor, advised her
to stay away from the trial, as it might further stress her in light of a
mis-carriage she suffered 2 weeks ago.
Ssemakadde further served the same document to Resident State Attorney Janat
Kitimbo asking that Nyanzi’s trial be temporarily stayed until when she
will get post -arbortion treatment.
The same letter has also been served to the Uganda Prisons Headqtrs and Luzira
Prison where Stellah Nyanzi is currently detained, on charges of cyber
harassment and offensive communication against the head of State President
Museveni and his late mother Esteri Kokundeka.
However , Prosecution objected to Ssemakadde’s request to have the trial halted
and said it was a deliberate move for the Lawyer and his Client to frustrate
this case.
Kitimbo then asked Presiding Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu to go a head and
make a ruling on the legaality of the charges Stellah Nyanzi is facing.
However Magistrate Kamasanyu has reserved her ruling until 31st/January/2019,
to give Dr. Stella Nyanzi another chance to appear as she is still presumed
innocent, but only being ill advised by his Lawyer.
The Magistrate noted that it is absurd to see that the Lawyer is now concerned
about his client’s health and advising her not to attend Court, yet when Court
reminded Dr. Stella Nyanzi of her right to bail in
November/last year, her Lawyer did not utilise that opportunity.
END
