{UAH} A sad story about our judicial system by Rajab Kaaya Sema

"VERY STRANGE BUT TRUE! 

In June 2016, I went with some other FDC Officials and MPs led by LOP to visit the People's President Dr Kizza Besigye in Luzira Upper Prison where he had been remanded on treason charges. Before we could be allowed to access and talk to him, we were asked to go to the office of the Uganda Prisons Spokesperson Mr Baine Frank as part of procedure in the VIP arrangements. We had a lengthy discussion with him on issues to do with the welfare of the prisoners and the Justice system in Uganda. He told us about the kinds of people they have in prisons, some of whom were found guilty, others still suspects and innocent people who were convicted as a result of circumstances. He narrated to us one touching story of a convicte who had spent 16 years in Prison. How did this man end up in Luzira Prison!

One day a friend of his came to visit him riding a bicycle and they had a normal discussion. The friend had his personal problems and he wanted to run away from the village which he didn't reveal to him and asked to leave his bicycle behind at his home. 

After two days the man was not coming for his bicycle! family members started looking for him and they failed to know his whereabouts. They decided to report the matter to police. Two weeks later the bicycle was found in the possession of his friend. He was arrested and charged with murder. Everyone in the village concluded that the man was murdered by a friend who was found with the bicycle. He was convicted and sentenced to 17 years. 

After 16 years, a man from the same village visited Kenya, while walking in the slums of Nairobi, he landed onto this man who was allegedly killed by a friend sixteen years ago back home. He stopped him and asked him what had happened to him! he explained that he had his own problems which compelled him to run away from the village. Asked if he knew what happened to the friend back home, he said that he wasn't aware. This man came back and explained to the authorities and the people in his village that the man who was alleged to have been murdered by a friend was actually alive in Kenya. This same information reached the authorities in Luzira Prison. Mr Baine Frank told us that by the time they got this information, the State couldn't do much since it required going back to court for another decision. He said that even the Judge who handled the case had even died. 

I learnt a lot from this experience that sometimes what seems to be obvious maybe different. Sometimes Courts of law may not give Justice but Injustice. There are so many cases of this nature outside there! 

This was a famous case in Busoga! 

What have you learnt?"

By Rajab Kaaya Sema 

"In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism."

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