A man who breached President Museveni’s tight security during the Kawempe North by-election campaign and dashed toward him before being apprehended by security personnel has admitted guilt in court.
Yoram Baguma, 28, a resident of Bugabo Cell in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District, pleaded guilty to charges of carrying out acts meant to irritate, alarm, or mock the President—an offense under Section 24 (b) and (c) of the Penal Code Act.
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Prosecutors stated that on March 11—the final day of campaigns in the hotly contested Kawempe North by-election—Baguma defied lawful commands and intentionally attempted to cause alarm and ridicule while President Museveni addressed a crowd at Mbogo playground in Kawempe Division, Kampala.
Witnesses saw Baguma sprinting directly toward the president’s position. However, security agents intercepted him before he could get close.
At the time, President Museveni was rallying support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Ms. Faridah Nambi. She would later finish second to Elias Nalukoola of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who won the parliamentary seat.
Still clad in the black T-shirt he wore on the day of his arrest, the unemployed young man appeared in Kawempe Magistrates’ Court, where he voluntarily raised his hand and pleaded guilty to the charges.
“I wish to apologize for that act against the president,” Baguma said in Runyakore, with the help of a court interpreter.
The prosecution noted that, with the guilty plea entered, the next step would be sentencing. However, the magistrate postponed the case to May 30 to allow Baguma time to secure legal representation, since the charges carry a potential life sentence—the second-highest penalty under Uganda’s criminal law.
“This matter is adjourned to May 30 for mention…and we are appointing a state attorney,” the magistrate ruled.
What the law says:
Under Section 24 of the Penal Code Act, anyone who—with the intent to alarm, annoy, or ridicule the President—throws any substance at or strikes, assaults, or unlawfully restrains the President is guilty of an offense and may face life imprisonment.
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