Court Grants Dr Stella Nyanzi Bail
Dr. Stella Nyanzi in court
Kampala. Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court on May 10, 2017 granted bail to Makerere University academic Dr. Stella Nyanzi. Dr. Nyanzi appeared in court facing charges of offensive comments and cyber harassment. She had earlier criticized Ugandan President Museveni and his wife Mrs Janet Museveni, who's in charge of Uganda's education ministry, in a Facebook post for not making good on election promises to provide sanitary napkins for schoolgirls.
Court presided over by Chief Magistrate James Ereemye granted Dr Nyanzi a non-cash bail of Shs 10 million, with sureties bonded at the same amount non-cash.
Dr Nyanzi was charged under the Computer Misuse Act, 2011. Supported by two female prison wardens, Dr Nyanzi appeared before the court looking frail. Dr Nyanzi's lawyer Mr. Nicholas Opiyo told reporters his client had a malaria attack and was feeling unwell. Her lawyers said the she was unwell and had collapsed in the morning forcing the prison authorities to take her to hospital before presenting her in court for her bail hearing.
Court rejected gagging orders that the State had demanded as condition for her release. Dr Nyanzi was required to handover her passport as part of the conditions for her bail.
The Makerere research fellow, who was arrested on April 7, 2017 first appeared in court on April 10, 2017.
Posted 11th, May 2017
