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The High court in Kampala has ordered government to pay Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago,[5] Shs75m as damages for having been maliciously arrested at Central Police Station (CPS) stairs and prosecuted as he protested against the then Kiboko squad in 2007.[4]
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The arrest of Mr Lukwago happened while he was the Kampala Central Member of Parliament.
He was arrested along with Aruu County MP Odonga Otto while attempting to hold an assembly at the Constitutional Square to protest the then mysterious Kiboko Squad that was mercilessly beating up Kampala residents.[1]
Following the foiled rally at city square,[10] they were arrested and charged before Buganda Road Court for disobeying orders of a female traffic police officer though they were later acquitted for lack of evidence.[4] Mr Otto had been separately charged for allegedly assaulting the then DPC Mr Emmanuel Muhairwe, during the time of his arrest.
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But in his ruling, Justice Yasin Nyanzi noted that Mr Lukwago’s arrest and subsequent charges on a traffic offence over a vehicle that he neither owned nor was driving, [10]was unlawful and left a lot to be desired from police which preferred the charges.[7] [1]Justice Nyanzi also observed that the pulling and pushing of the two leaders was ‘degrading’ enough to reduce them to common ‘criminals’.
Also in his verdict, Justice Nyanzi noted that the Shs75m award will attract an interest from today [the date of judgment] till payment in full.[8] The judge also ordered the government to meet Mr Lukwago’s legal fees that he used to successfully pursue this suit that he filed in about six years.[2]
Reacting to the court ruling,[1] a jolly Lukwago said: “the award of Shs75m in both general and punitive damages is reasonable.”
He added: “ I applaud the trial judge for the well-reasoned and fair judgment. [5]I am glad that justice has finally prevailed and I hope it will act as deterrence against further acts of torture, harassment inhumane and degrading treatment by the police and other security agencies.”[6]
Mr Lukwago in 2010 single handily sued the chief legal advisor for wrongful arrest and humiliation by police officers under the orders of then DPC Muhairwe.[3]
Source: Monitor
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
