Besigye’s trial fails to take off

Besigye’s trial fails to take off Wednesday, 15th June, 2011 http://www.newvision.co.ug/ Besigye speaks on phone as Sempala sits next to him at a church in Nabweru By PASCAL KWESIGA  HEARING of a case against the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Kizza Besigye, failed to take off yesterday after prosecution asked court for more time to complete investigations. Besigye is facing charges of holding unlawful assembly and inciting violence in relation to the recent walk-to-work demonstrations. He appeared before the Nabweru Chief Magistrate, Justine Atukwasa. Before Atukwasa fixed July 8 as the new date for the trial to commence, prosecution gave Besigye’s lawyer, Ernest Kalibbala, documents containing information on the charges his client is facing. The Police blocked journalists from accessing court premises, saying it was a directive from the chief magistrate. There was a brief standoff between the Police and journalists as the latter tried to forcefully enter the court room. “We are implementing orders from court. We have no time to argue with you,” said Moses Ochieng, the Kawempe district Police commander. The Police also restrained Besigye’s aides, who attempted to force the gate open for the journalists, saying Besigye had refused to appear before court without journalists. The heavily armed Police also blocked Besigye as he walked from court towards the Nabweru-Nansana road. “Get back into your vehicle. We are not going to allow you to continue because you are leading a procession,” Kampala metropolitan north regional Police commander Michael Mugabi told Besigye who was in the company of a crowd. “If you want to imprison me for walking, do so. I am not leading any procession because I didn’t call these people. Ask them to go away and I proceed to my destination,” Besigye retorted. He resisted orders to use his vehicle and instead sat on a bench at St. John Mary Mzee Catholic Church at Nabweru trading centre, where he stayed for about three hours. At about 2:00pm, Besigye drove off in his blue Mitsubishi Pajero in the company of the Kampala Woman MP, Nabillah Sempala, and other FDC officials. The Police escorted his convoy in patrol vehicles to Adventure African Restaurant in Kololo, a city suburb, where he had lunch.