Grade One Magistrate Daphine Ayebare of the Fort Portal Chief Magistrate has ordered Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola and Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to release former NBS TV journalist Remmy Bahati’s cousin brother Latif Ashaba.
Through her lawyer Gawaya Tegulle, Bahati had applied for mandatory release order for the release of Ashaba and Kelvin Katungu. Grade One Magistrate Daphine Ayebare heard the application today, October 19 in the presence of Counsel Tegulle and in the absence of applicants and respondents.
“It is hereby ordered as follows: (1) the second applicant Ashaba Latif be unconditionally released from police custody/detention, (2) the respondents and any police officer are directed to apply with this order, (3) the first respondent [Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka] meets costs of this application,” ordered Grade One Magistrate Ayebare. The letter has already been received by the Fort Portal Regional Office of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Bahati said police and the attorney general’s office are yet to comply with the court order.
“I asked my attorney Mr. Gawaya Tegulle to file a habeas corpus for my cousin who remains under illegal detention by the UPDF and Police for the 10th day. Her worship Ayebare Daphine has issued an order to have him released immediately and unconditionally! Stop impunity!” wrote Bahati.
“We have served the Attorney General and the Regional Police Commander with a court order for the immediate and unconditional release of my 22-year-old cousin, the police are reluctant to execute it, saying they are waiting for orders from above. Who is that person above the law?”
Remmy Bahati’s cousin brother has been under detention for nearly 10 days since being arrested from their home in the city of Fort Portal.