Journalist appeared in court, remanded until September 22nd

Kampala, 8th/09/2011, Rhino FM journalist Augustine okello who is on treason charges has appeared before court today and remanded to Luzira prison.

This is the fourth time when he’s appearing in court for formation and his case has been adjourned to 22^nd September, 2011.

 Okello was brought to court through the habeas corpus and he’s likely to be committed to high court for trail in October this year. He first appeared before grade one magistrate Grace Balintuma who read charges and remanded him to Luzira prison.

“It’s still tricky for us to apply for bail for him because he has not completed the six months mandatory period on remand which is supposed to be served by anyone on a capital offence” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that Okello file case has not yet been accessed by the defence lawyer despite efforts to ask the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to avail it.

It was however reported to court by the state prosecutor Happiness Ainebyona who is handling the case that the file was not yet with the DPP and that she had only court proceedings on the file.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) once again calls upon the judiciary to consider circumstances under which Okello was arrested and the alleged torture so that his case can be expeditiously handled.

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala

 Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627

 E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org

              humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk

 Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

 BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com