Judge Lawrence Tweyanze of the Masaka High Court persuaded the two parliamentarians’ attorneys on Monday afternoon that it was within their constitutional rights for them to be freed on bond in order for them to receive treatment outside of prison, where they had been detained since September 2021.
The judge ordered that the two lawmakers deposit their passports with the court and each pay a cash bond of Shs20 million.
Each of the MPs’ sureties has been required to post a non-cash bond in the amount of Shs50 million.
The legislators have also been instructed to provide a monthly report to the registrar of the High Court’s International Crimes Division in Kampala, but they have also been forbid from interfering with the investigations into their cases.
In an unprecedented move, the state decided to accept the two legislators’ motion for bail after initially opposing it. This led to their release on bond.
The three affidavits presented in opposition to the bail application were requested to be withdrawn by Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka on Monday morning after the DPP provided a certificate of no objection to the bail application.
However, in order to release the two lawmakers on bond, the state attorney requested that the court impose a “significant amount of cash” as a condition.