The State has taken over the prosecution of National Unity Platform (NUP) Supreme Leader, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine for lying about his age and alleged falsifying of academic documents.
The case had earlier been handled by lawyer Male Mabirizi who claimed that the presidential hopeful gave wrong information concerning his age to parliament and the passport office.
According to a statement from Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Jane Kitimbo, the Resident Attorney of the court’s jurisdiction will take over the case with sanction from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“Pursuant to Article 120(3) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 and section 43(1) (a) of the Magistrates Courts Act cap.16, the Director of Public Prosecutions is taking over and will continue to conduct the criminal proceedings in this case,” Kitimbo says.
The Resident State Attorney has consequently asked lawyer Mabirizi to furnish the DPP’s office with all evidence regarding the matter.
Mabirizi had earlier filed a private prosecution before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court accusing the legislator of giving false information, contrary to section 115(a) of the Penal Code Act.
“Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert on the 11th day of July 2017 at parliamentary building, Parliamentary avenue, Kampala Central Division in Kampala district, you gave false information to the Clerk to Parliament, a public officer that you were born on February,12, 1982 knowing that it was false and you thereby caused the Clerk to Parliament to enter false information on Uganda Parliament’s records and website, a thing she ought not to have done had she known the truth,” Mabirizi’s charge sheet reads in part.
The Kyadondo East legislator is also accused of obtaining registration by false pretence contrary to section 312 of the Penal Code Act when his name was entered into parliament’s records under false pretence that he was born on February,1, 1982 yet it was not true.
Kyagulanyi is also accused of declaring false information to immigration officers while applying for his passport on March,1, 2000.