KAMPALA: Lawyer Male Mabirizi has been arrested a week after he was sentenced to 18 months in jail for contempt of court.
Mabirizi is now being held at Jinja Road Police as police commander await the next step in handling the case.
Last Tuesday, the High Court ordered the immediate arrest of Mabirizi to serve 18 months in jail for contempt of court. Civil Division High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana issued the orders after finding Mabirizi guilty of contempt of court for the second time.
The ruling stemmed from an application by State Attorney, Patricia Mutesi who argued that despite the high court orders issued on January 27, 2022 cautioning Mabirizi to desist from attacking judicial officers, he is adamant and continues making contemptuous posts on his social media platforms against the presiding judge (Ssekaana) and the Judiciary.
But, Mabirizi last week challenged the ruling, saying there was no safe guard of fair hearing.
“Judge Ssekaana gave to himself my case last year. I applied for recusal he refused. I challenged that recusal in EACJ Court, then asked for a stay, he refused. I was served late by AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka had a week to respond. There was no safe guard of fair hearing,” he explained.
He also insisted that the court ruling was not a warrant of arrest.
“This is not a warrant of arrest. Therefore any police officer who tampers with my liberty will face personal legal consequences. The law requires that I am issued a notice to show cause upon request for a warrant by Kiryowa Kiwanuka, If he wishes, I’m free,” he said.