I’ve got some people in the DMs asking for a bit more detail on the steps involved before the state locks people up for years like it did with the Late MP, Ssegirinya. It helps to understand just how many people are in on this abuse of human rights that is the police to prisons pipeline. 

So, here goes:

1. There’s an Investigating Officer (IO) that ought to be from @PoliceUg. Even when it's a team of investigators from sister security agencies, the police guy must be there.

2. A state Attorney (prosecutor) from @ODPPUGANDA sanctions this file which basically means they look at the evidence available and weigh it against the charges suggested by police.
 
3. Should the evidence not add-up, different or lesser charges are recommended by the prosecutor.

4. Subject to the circumstances, the prosecutor recommends further investigations and emphasizes the areas to look at.

5. If the evidence available is sufficient, the state Attorney signs off the charge sheet. Technically, lawyers say, “the file has been sanctioned”.

6. The suspect is then arraigned before a Magistrate.

This procedure has more people than the Judge.

Was the Ssegirinya file committed to the High Court?

Yes. This means IO must have concluded with investigations and the prosecutor(s) agreed that they had a case against the legislators. 

The prosecutors are tasked with informing court that the investigations are done and that the accused be committed to the High Court for trial at the next available session.

The Magistrates Court doesn't hear bail applications in capital offences.

Questions need to be asked of all state officials at the different stages of this chain as to why they arrest citizens, have charges sanctioned and cases presented to the courts, people remanded for endless months, bail applications denied and ALL THIS WITHOUT EVIDENCE. 

Why do we let this happen? 

Why aren’t these officials fired? 

Why does the DPP, Lady Judge Jane Frances Abodo continue being celebrated as a trailblazing champion of justice? 

Why? 

#EmptyTheJails

P.S: Thanks to some really generous legal minds who give us free advice at @PublicSquareEA. Your work allows us better understand what is an insanely rotten criminal justice system. 🙏🏾🥹