The Soroti Chief Magistrate’s Court has released Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi and two Members of Parliament on bail following their recent arrest.
The trio, along with other co-accused, was apprehended last week and charged with unlawful assembly, causing a public nuisance, burning vehicle tires, blocking traffic, and assaulting three police officers during a demonstration in Soroti City over the delayed cattle compensation.
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Amuriat, Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo, Soroti City West MP Jonathan Ebwalu, and three others—Sam Acaitum, Silus Emiedu, and Isaac Ogaram—were initially sent to Soroti Prison on remand.
During Wednesday’s court hearing, their lawyer, Moses Okot Junior Bitek, informed the court that the accused had secured more than twenty sureties to support their bail application.
However, State Attorney Paul Okello opposed the application, citing discrepancies in documentation. He pointed out that MP Ebwalu’s introduction letter from the LC1 bore inconsistent stamps, while Joan Alobo had not submitted hers, making it difficult to verify her place of residence. Okello also expressed doubts about the credibility of some sureties, questioning their ability to ensure the accused would return for trial.
Despite these concerns, the magistrate ruled that the sureties met the necessary legal requirements and granted each accused a cash bail of 2.5 million shillings, with their sureties required to sign a non-cash bond of 10 million shillings.
Additionally, Ebwalu and Alobo are facing separate charges of unlawful assembly, public nuisance, and obstructing traffic linked to another protest at Soroti Main Market.
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