The Court of Appeal in Kampala has declined to grant a temporary injunction for the release of city lawyer Male Mabirizi from prison where he was committed after being arrested by police to serve an 18 months imprisonment over contempt of court.
On February 15, High Court’s Justice Musa Ssekaana issued an order for Mabirizi to be sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after being found guilty of continued contempt of court for disparaging judicial officers via his social pages.
Ssekaana’s decision followed an application by State Attorney Patricia Mutesi from the Attorney General’s Chambers who argued that despite a January 27th, 2022 order warning Mabirizi to desist from attacking judicial officers, he continued making disrespectful posts on his social media platforms against him (Ssekaana) and the Judiciary.
The Judge directed police to arrest Mabirizi on sight to ensure he serves the punishment and was consequently arrested earlier this week and taken to Kitalya.
However, through his lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde, Mabirizi asked court to stay execution of the 18 months imprisonment pending disposal of his appeal challenging the same and the shs300 million fine imposed on him by the High Court .
On Friday, Justice Christopher Madrama ruled that Mabirizi’s plea to stay execution of the 18 months imprisonment cannot succeed because he didn’t appeal against the 18 months imprisonment.
On this, the judge reasoned with the State Attorney Patricia Mutesi who earlier this week told court that Mabirizi had only appealed against the shs300 million fine and not the 18months imprisonment.
She told court that the 18 months imprisonment only came in as additional affidavit for the shs300 million fine appeal.