Dr Stella Nyanzi, a popular university researcher specialized in queer theory, was arrested early April 2017 for using sexually explicit vulgarity while criticizing the current regime for failing to fulfill its promise of providing sanitary pads to all schoolgirls from poor families in school, which was a campaign promise before the 2016 elections.
State officials noted that her online comments contravened the 2011 Computer Misuse Act and that she engaged in “cyber harassment” and “offensive communication”.
She pleaded not guilty but was denied bail and detained at Luzira ever since.
Stella, who is a born-again Christian mother of 3, on Tuesday appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, James Eremye Mawanda. The Judge has adjourned her case until May 10 pending hearing of her bail application on Wednesday by Justice Elizabeth Kabanda of the High Court.
According to state aided Newspaper the New Vision, State Attorney Jonathan Mugwanya submitted to court that there was evidence that Nyanzi was a patient at Butabika with history of erratic psychiatric disorder.
Nyanzi’s lawyer Nicholas Opiyo argued that the state application was brought in bad faith and with an act of ambush to deny appropriate response, the Newspaper has said.
Nicholas Opiyo additionally complained that his client was restricting to only the Holy Bible and no other literature in prison.
This, Mr Nicholas said, is discrimination in Luzira.
“We are not saying the Bible is not essential but she should not be restricted from other forms of literature,” Counsel Nicholas Opio said in court. “She should be allowed to have access to notes from writers.”
“Many things like literature have to be censored and restrictions on visitations are allowed,” the prosecutor said, however quickly noting that the accused will be granted her constitutional rights.
Although several religious leaders found Nyanzi’s language offensive, in his statement to the press recently, popular communications expert Amos Zikusooka defended the researcher noting that she deployed established principles of communication, which are also used in news, psychology, and even sociology.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
