Mukono businessman Twinamasiko petition court to dismiss charges against him

By Our Reporter

7^th Sept 2023

Mukono businessman, Jackson Twinamasiko has petitioned the court to dismiss criminal charges related to land disputes against him until the resolution of the civil suits pending before the High Court.

His ordeal began on August 1 when he visited the Crime Investigations Department (CID) in Kibuli to follow up on a complaint he had filed against Ben Mugisha, a police officer attached to the land protection desk.

However, to his surprise, he found himself under arrest during this visit.

While he was eventually granted police bond, Twinamasiko faced another arrest on August 3, this time on charges of causing intentional property damage, removal of boundaries, and trespassing on land claimed by Major Mark Wanyama.

The land in question is found on Mbeya Island in Mpunge Sub-County within Mukono district.

Twinamasiko was subsequently presented in the Magistrate’s Court and granted bail.

During his appearance before the Mukono Chief Magistrate Roselyn Nsenge on Thursday, Twinamasiko’s lawyer, Steven Turyatunga, raised objections to the prosecution’s request for an adjournment.

Turyatunga argued that the case before the court is fundamentally civil in nature but has been inappropriately criminalized in favor of the complainant.

The prosecution, represented by Collins Ouma, sought an adjournment on the basis that the complainant was absent from the court proceedings.

Both the complainant and the accused filed civil suits before the high court asking it to declare them owners of the land and they have different dates fixed for the hearing.

The high court also issued a temporary injunction allowing the defendant to continue using the land and restricting the complainant from stepping on the same land,” Turyatunga reasoned before presenting the injunction to the magistrate.

In her ruling, Nsenge noted that “Counsel for the defendant has submitted on pertinent issues and backed them with the law before adjourning the session to September 28.

Outside the courtroom, Twinamasiko expressed concerns about his personal safety, alleging that individuals associated with Major Mark Wanyama were pursuing him with malicious intent.