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| Ramadhan Ndikuyeze appearing in court |
The
Kabale Chief Magistrate Derrick Byaruhanga has today Tuesday 11th October 2022 declined to grant bail to the
jailed Kisoro District NRM party Vice Chairperson Ramadhan Ndikuyeze.
Ndikuyeze,
who doubles as the LC III chairperson for Central Division in Kisoro
Municipality is being charged with aggravated trafficking of persons.
Prosecution
led by Edwin Amanya told the court that “Ndikuyeze, of 50 years old being a public officer, between the months
of September 2021 and November 2021 in the districts of Kisoro and Kabale,
recruited or received or harboured one Sarah Mbabazi by means of abuse of power
or position of vulnerability for the purpose of sexual exploitation.”
Aggravated
trafficking is contrary to sections 4 (1) (a) and 4 (g) of the prevention of
trafficking in persons act of 2009, in the constitution of the Republic of
Uganda.
Amanya
told court that they are finalizing inquiries in the case as of now and that they
are unable to start hearing the case because the key witness is still
undergoing witness protection and psychosocial support in Kampala.
He
added that the case file was recalled back by the Assistant Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP) and Coordinator Human Trafficking Cases in Office of DPP
Rachael Bikhole after the second appearance.
He
asked court that the case be adjourned for two weeks as they prepare for
disclosure of their evidence.
Ndikuyeze,
through his lawyer Rebecca Ayesiga of Beitwenda and company advocates asked
court to be granted bail saying that bail is a constitutional right for every
citizen of Uganda, and that he deserved his freedom having been jailed since
September 29th 2022.
In
his ruling about the bail application, his Worship Byaruhanga said that on the
mere reason that the witness is on psychosocial support and the file is still
with the DPP it’s hard to hear the bail application.
He
therefore remanded the suspect back to Ndorwa government prisons until
October 25th 2022 when he will reappear in court for hearing of the case and
bail application.
