The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has urged the government to refrain from interfering with the courts’ decisions on granting bail to accused persons.
Ssenyonyi’s remarks follow President Yoweri Museveni’s address to the nation last weekend, during which he opposed the granting of bail to certain suspects, arguing that their release could jeopardize ongoing investigations.
Citing Article 23(6) of the Constitution, Ssenyonyi said every accused person has the constitutional right to apply for bail before conviction.
He called on legal experts within the government to advise the relevant authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary and uphold the constitutional rights of all Ugandans.
Responding to the concerns, Attorney General Sam Mayanja said bail is a constitutional right and stressed that the decision to grant or deny bail rests solely with the courts.
Mayanja noted that judicial officers exercise their discretion based on the facts and circumstances of each case, in accordance with the law.
By Francis Lubega
7th July 2026
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