Uganda opposition figure Besigye freed on bail after two

1/7/2022 18:38

        A court in Uganda released veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye on bail on Friday after spending two weeks in jail awaiting trial on charges of inciting violence.
        
        Besigye, 66, was detained on June 14 in the capital Kampala as he led protests against sky-rocketing consumer prices and was charged with inciting violence the following day.
        
        His initial bail application made on the day he was charged were denied.
        
        According to a live video feed on Besigye's Facebook account of the court proceedings, on Friday his lawyers applied for bail again and a magistrate agreed to release Besigye saying he was "satisfied that the accused's sureties are substantial.".
        
        He ordered Besigye to pay 2.5 million shillings ($665) bail cash as one of the conditions for his release. He was ordered to appear in court again on July 29.
        Ugandans have expressed widespread anger at the steep surge in prices of fuel, cooking oil, soap, wheat and other goods and government's refusal to intervene to cushion consumers.