The four were arrested while going to deliver a petition to parliament on the plight of Ugandan domestic workers in the Middle East. They include Nansana West Ward LC V councillor John Bosco Sserunkuma, Richard Sebuganda, a Makerere University student and two businessmen; Brian Ssemanda and Moses Sserugo.
They appeared before grade one magistrate Fidelis Otwao. It is alleged that the accused persons became rowdy, obstructed and inconvenienced the public by blocking walkways on September 5. Court heard that investigations into the matter are complete and the prosecution is ready to pin them for the charge.
But lawyers led by Shamim Malende applied for bail for the accused persons who they said were tortured and needed urgent medical attention. Malende further noted that Ssebuganda is a medical student at Makerere University who needs to regain his freedom to attend class and needs treatment because of a disability.
Ssebuganda appeared in court with a broken arm which is believed to have been deformed by a tear gas canister. But the prosecution objected to the request for bail on grounds that the offence against all accused persons involves inconveniencing the public and once they are granted bail they are likely to repeat it.
Court has also heard that the accused may abscond since the offence against them attracts a custodial sentence and they have not demonstrated that they have a fixed place of abode.
But magistrate Otwao granted them a cash bail of Shs 100,000 while their sureties were each bonded at Shs 5 million and ordered to ensure that the accused persons return to court for trial on September 15. In the meantime, the magistrate ordered the prosecution to disclose to the accused persons and their lawyers the evidence they plan to bring against them to enable them to prepare their defence.
According to the 2021 Human Rights and Freedoms report, Ugandans seeking work abroad face several forms of human rights violations which include confiscation of their passports, sexual and physical harassment, racial discrimination, and loss of life. The report notes that the perpetrators are said to be their employers, overseas recruitment agencies, and the recruitment agencies in Uganda.
In June 2022, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) asked the government to fast-track the deployment of labour officers in the Middle East to curb violations subjected to Ugandan migrant workers.
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