#March2Parliament Protest: NTV’s Faiza Fabz and Three Others Granted Bail, One Denied

The Nakawa Magistrates Court has granted bail to four prominent individuals, while denying bail to one of the protesters. The accused were arrested a week ago for attempting to March to Parliament over corruption. The court proceedings, held amidst a highly charged atmosphere, have captured widespread attention as they involve several well-known figures.

Bail Granted to Four Protesters

The individuals who were granted bail include:

1. Faiza Salima – A popular presenter at KFM.
2. Baron Edgar Hamala – A well-known photojournalist.
3. Bernard Olupot Ewalu – A blogger and social media influencer.
4. Dr. Thomas Kanzira – A medical professional.

Each of the four was granted cash bail of Shs200,000, while their sureties were bonded at a non-cash amount of Shs500,000. The decision to grant bail came after a thorough examination of the sureties’ documents, which the prosecution had sought additional time to verify. However, the court denied the prosecution’s request for more time, and also overruled their objections to the sureties based on the absence of letters from their employers.

Denial of Bail to Aljab Musinguzi

In contrast, the court denied bail to Aljab Musinguzi, another participant in the protest. The denial was primarily due to Musinguzi’s inability to present an introductory letter from his Local Council (LC1), a crucial document required in the bail process. This decision has sparked concern and debate, as Musinguzi remains the only protester among the five to be denied bail.

The #March2Parliament protest has been a focal point of recent public and political discourse, drawing attention from various sectors of society. Notably, the event has seen condemnation from key political figures, including President Museveni, who criticized foreign influence in the protests. The incident also led to the suspension of journalist Samson Kasumba by Next Media over controversial social media posts related to the protest.