The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Soroti has granted bail to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President, two Members of Parliament, and three other political activists after they were charged with about 20 counts related to their involvement in the recent “No Cow, No Vote” protest.
Presiding Magistrate Her Worship Hilda Bakanansa Walaga ruled on Wednesday that each of the six accused individuals would be released on a cash bail totaling Uganda Shillings 32 million, with each surety bound to a non-cash obligation of UGX 10 million.
The ruling follows an intense two-day legal battle that has captivated national attention.
The Accused who include: Patrick Amuriat Oboi, FDC President, Hon. Joan Alobo Acom, Woman MP, Soroti City, Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu, MP, Soroti City West, Mr. Sam Acaitum, FDC mobilizer and political assistant to MP Alobo, Mr. Sylus Emesu, FDC activist and Mr. Agalamu Albert, youth activist with FDC appeared on Zoom while are Soroti government Prison.
The six had been remanded to Soroti Government Prison on Monday, March 10, 2025, after their initial bail application was blocked by State Attorney Paul Okello, who cited procedural irregularities including the late submission of surety documents.
The group faces 20 counts across four case files, which include: Burning public roads and damaging infrastructure under the Road Act 2019 (Section 61(e)), Unlawful assembly, Obstructing traffic and Assaulting a police officer on duty
Prosecution alleges that on March 7, 2025, the six participated in a disruptive protest in Soroti City where motorcycle tyres were set ablaze and stones were hurled on the roads, disrupting traffic and endangering public safety.
Other charges are linked to previous demonstrations, particularly one held on January 8, 2024, where MPs Ebwalu and Alobo are accused of leading another unlawful assembly intended to cause public disturbance.
In the first case related to burning public roads and damaging infrastructure, the court granted cash bail of UGX 2 million to each accused, while each of their surities were bound to UGX 10 million non-cash.
In a second case, which included unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer, the court again granted bail of UGX 2.5 million per accused and 10 million noncash per each surity.
A third set of charges was related to a case from January 8, 2024, where MPs Ebwalu and Alobo are accused of organizing an unlawful protest in Soroti City.
The court granted UGX 2.5 million cash bail per person and each surity bounded 10 million shillings non cash.
Despite State Attorney Paul Okello’s objections to all bail applications, Magistrate Walaga overruled, citing that the accused had met all legal requirements for bail and the surities presented were credible.
She has scheduled the next hearing of the respective files on: March 21, 2025, for charges related to the January 8, 2024 while March 31, 2025, charges relating to the March 7, 2025 protest.
After the court ruling, defense lawyer Moses Okot Bitek Jr expressed mixed emotions, relief over securing bail, but frustration over what he described as “legal tyranny.”
“We got bail for all the accused persons that we had applied for, in all the files,” said Okot Bitek Jr outside the courtroom.
“It was exhausting. We presented many surities in many counts across several files.”
He criticized the state’s strategy of filing multiple charges across separate files, calling it an abuse of legal procedure meant to drain the accused financially and logistically.
“This is a sign of tyranny, the regime duplicates files to make bail financially punitive. Even when bail is granted, for the common man, it’s a denial in disguise.”
Okot also called on Ugandans to show solidarity and support the leaders who, according to him, were fighting for the people’s rights.
“The bail amount now exceeds UGX 32 million. Some of these accused individuals have no property, no livestock, and yet are being ordered to pay millions in bail,” he added.
“We are ready to defend them through the due legal process, but Ugandans must understand these leaders are fighting for justice for them, for cattle compensation and accountability.”
The arrest and subsequent court proceedings come amid growing political unrest in Teso sub-region, fueled by delays in cattle compensation for war losses suffered decades ago.
The opposition’s “No Cow, No Vote” campaign, demanding full compensation for Teso war claimants has intensified pressure on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Government has admitted that the compensation process has been slow and underfunded, with Minister Norbert Mao recently confirming that only a fraction of the required funds, about UGX 30-50 billion, has been released so far across the Teso, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions.
About Author
Protestors should refrain from burning items on roads creating potholes such backwardness should not be showcased by elected leaders because these roads are public roads built using tax payers money they should protest by burning their personal properties to show case their anger