The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Justice Mike Chibita, has failed to make a decision on detained Pastor Joseph Kabuleta’s case file but promises to act before the close of Friday.
Speaking at a press briefi ng at his offi ces at Workers House yesterday, Chibita, who acknowledged receipt of the case fi le from the Police’s Special Investigations Division (SID), noted that given the sensitivity of the matter, they are going to ensure that their decision is made by Friday.
Irene Nakimbugwe, the spokesperson for the DPP, said under normal circumstances, it takes between a week and a month for a decision to be made on a case. Kabuleta was arrested last Friday by detectives from SID at Drew and Jack’s Restaurant in Lugogo, over allegations of offensive communication against the person of the President.
Police claim he repeatedly posted on social media grossly offensive messages under Joseph Kabuleta Weekly Rant Returns. The DPP is required, therefore, either to sanction charges preferred by the Police or decline and refer the matter back to the investigating officers.
Meanwhile, yesterday antiriot Police dispersed friends and relatives of Kabuleta from Kireka where they had gathered to protest his continued detention beyond the mandatory 48-hour period.
The supporters, some donning T-shirts with inscriptions, Freedom of Expression Online; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram first walked towards the main checkpoint SID where ‘the man of God’ as his supporters refer to him, was said to be detained.
They later gathered at a stone-sales point along the main road, a few meters from the SID, where they started singing and praising God. But the Police, led by Superintendent of Police Rashid Agero, the commander of the Field Force Unit in the Kampala Metropolitan area, asked the protesters to find another place.
The group dispersed when more forces were deployed including the Local Defence Unit personnel and anti-riot Police.