Chief Magistrate declines to deliver decision in open court

The much-anticipated ruling on the bail application of senior lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, failed to materialise today after trial Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera Anne declined to deliver the decision in open court. Instead, she convened a closed-door meeting with Lukwago, his legal team, prosecutors and sureties before announcing that the ruling would be issued electronically through the ECCMIS system within the next 24 hours. She cited the sensitive nature of the case and the need for a measured, balanced and carefully considered determination. The unexpected move left supporters, observers and members of the media waiting for a verdict that had been widely anticipated, extending uncertainty over one of the most closely watched bail applications in recent weeks.