Gen Muhoozi's Birthday Bash: High Court Bound for Disobedience and Nuisance Charges

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court has decided to refer a case involving Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the presidential advisor for special operations, to the High Court. 
The charges against him include disobedience and common nuisance, alleged to have been committed during his birthday party celebrations in October of last year.

https://twitter.com/meizonradio/status/1678743838096084992

Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has referred to the High Court a case in which the presidential advisor special operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is accused of disobedience and common nuisance allegedly committed during his birthday party celebrations in October last year.
Mr Ronald Kayizzi on Monday sent the First Son’s case file to High Court for criminal review at the request of the state attorney who submitted that the private prosecutor in the matter had no locus to file an amended charge sheet after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had already taken over the case.
“I note that the private prosecution against accused one (Gen Kainerugaba) by Mr Male Mabirizi was filed at City Hall Court on November 11, 2022 and the DPP took over this case on November 14. Court documents that were filed by Mabirizi on July 13, 2023 were erroneously received by the City Hall Court,” Mr Kayizzi submitted. 
According to him, the said documents not only increase the number of accused persons from one to eight but also increase the charges from two to six. 

Mabirizi stated that  this act contravenes section 99 of the UPDF Act, which prohibits serving military personnel from engaging in political activities. Mabirizi further argues that Kainerugaba’s actions caused common annoyance and inconvenience to the public, thereby violating their rights.

Mabirizi’s contention is that Kainerugaba’s involvement in politics violates Section 99 of the UPDF Act 2005, which prohibits military personnel from engaging in political activities. Mabirizi claims that Kainerugaba has repeatedly violated this provision by holding rallies in Entebbe, Mubende-Kasambya, and Kabale within the sixty days prior to May 2023. The events referred to by Mabirizi took place in Lira on March 28th, 2023, Entebbe on March 26th, 2023, Kasambya-Mubende on April 19th, 2023, and Kabale on April 19th, 2023.

Mabirizi alleges that Kainerugaba made political promises regarding infrastructure, sports, and fighting corruption during these events. Mabirizi considers these actions unlawful, as they infringe upon the fundamental and operational principles of the East African Community, such as good governance, adherence to democratic principles, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, and universally accepted human rights standards.

Other individuals have also challenged Muhoozi’s actions. Human Rights Lawyer Gawaya Tegule filed a lawsuit on May 7th, 2022, against the Attorney General and Muhoozi in his individual capacity. The lawsuit seeks an order restraining Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a serving army officer, from engaging in political activities. 

Additionally, Tegule wants Muhoozi prosecuted for treason based on political pronouncements made on his Twitter handle, alleging that they are aimed at unlawfully assuming power as a successor to his father, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.