Four Bobi Wine bodyguards granted bail, but two remain in custody

What the report says

The Observer reports that the Masaka High Court has granted bail to four bodyguards of National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, in a case linked to an incident during the May 2024 burial of UK-based businessman Pascal Ssekasamba in Lwengo District. The accused are Edward Ssebuwuufu, also called Eddie Mutwe, Achilleo Kivumbi, Grace Wakabi, also known as Smart-wa Bobi, and Gadhafi Mugumya.

Senior Resident Judge Victoria Nakintu Katamba set cash bail at Shs 5 million each and required sureties to provide non-cash bonds of Shs 50 million each. The court also ordered the accused to surrender passports and report monthly to the deputy registrar. The charges described in the article include aggravated robbery, malicious damage to property and assault. The prosecution alleges damage to a journalist’s camera and a correspondent’s smartphone, along with the theft of two phones and injuries to three people.

The defence had argued that the men had spent a long time on remand and had family responsibilities. However, the judge noted that the Masaka court could not deal with any separate matters pending elsewhere. According to the NUP, only Mugumya and Wakabi were expected to be released once bail is paid, while Kivumbi and Ssebuwuufu would remain in custody because of another case before the Kawempe High Court. The party said that separate case involves unlawful drilling, a claim it disputes. Masaka city mayor Florence Namayanja said fundraising would be launched to help meet the bail conditions.