Raphael Wanjala denies incitement charges, freed on bail

Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala (right) at a Busia court on April 16, 2018. PHOTO | GAITANO PESSA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Budalang'i MP Raphael Wanjala was on Monday released from police custody.

Mr Wanjala and four other people were arrested on Saturday over chaos that erupted during a public function in Busia on Friday.  

The MP, alongside Mbaga Tuzinde, John Michula, Alfred Wesonga and Peter Otuna were charged with undermining the authority of a public officer, endangering the safety of aircraft and persons on board and incitement to violence.

BAIL

They all denied the charges and were each freed on Sh400,000 cash bail and a surety of Sh700,000.

On Friday, Mr Wanjala fled Busia after his supporters clashed with those of his political rival Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

Mr Namwamba had accompanied a team from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure that was led by CAS Chris Obure to inspect Sigiri bridge repair works, an event the Budalang’i MP claimed he had not been invited to.

The incident forced police to lob teargas canisters and fire bullets to disperse the rowdy crowd.

Mr Wanjala protested over the cash bail amount terming it a form of “intimidation by the courts”.

“We feel that the cash bail terms that have been granted are too high especially for petty accused persons. Even the sureties of Sh700,000 for each of the accused is also way above. We are already pursuing other processes and by close of business we will have reached a conclusion after review,” his lawyer Haman Omiti said.