The Chief Magistrates Court in Nakawa has issued criminal summons against the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Maj Gen Geofrey Katsigazi Tumusiime to appear before it over last year’s ban on mobilization tours and rallies by National Unity Platform president, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine.
The court on Monday directed the deputy IGP to appear before it on April, 17, 2024 without fail.
“You are hereby commanded by the Uganda government to appear in this court on the 17th day of April 2024 at 2:00 PM or soon thereafter as the case may be heard,” the summons read in part.
Lawyer Male Mabirizi last year, under a private prosecution preferred criminal charges against the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Tumusiime Katsigazi after police suspended National Unity Platform mobilisation’s national tours, citing the party’s failure to follow guidelines.
A statement signed off by Maj Gen Katsigazi said Kyagulanyi and the National Unity Platform had failed to heed to guidelines but rather caused public disorder, unnecessary traffic jams, loss of business, and malicious damage to property.
In his case before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court, lawyer Mabirizi preferred charges of scandalous conduct by officers contrary to 145(1) and 145(2) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act, 2005, and conduct prejudicial to good conduct and order.
Mabirizi contends that Maj Gen Katsigazi, a serving UPDF officer on September, 13, 2023 at Naguru, Nakawa Division in Kampala City, made, documented, and publicly circulated political statements against the National Unity Platform Political party, a political party in opposition, and “in favour of the National Resistance Movement Political party, a party wielding political power, and its chairman, who performs the work of President of the Republic of Uganda, whose conduct was generally against public order, expectations, and morality and which directly or indirectly affected other Ugandans. “
