The Buganda Road Magistrate, Samuel Kagodo has adjourned the case against Frank Gashumba and two others to December 11 on grounds that the magistrate and the prosecutors were all not present.
Gashumba along with his brother Innocent Kasumba and a one Ismail Kiyingi were two weeks ago charged and released on Shs 20 million non-cash bail each by Chief Magistrate James Mwawanda Ereemye, who was however not present in court on Monday.
Meanwhile, the magistrate issued criminal summons against Frank Gashumba for having been absent at the time when the case was called. Gashumba arrived 30 minutes late in court long after the magistrate had called the adjournment.
The accused’s lawyer Denis Nyombi had pleaded to the magistrate to hold claiming his client was almost making entrance but the magistrate insisted Gashumba was absent.
Kagoda noted that he couldn’t wait until a single person would enter and he maintained his ruling.
Speaking to Gashumba after the case, he noted that he is a law abiding citizen who couldn’t abscond court but had delayed a few minutes due to the heavy traffic jam on his way to Court.
“I wasn’t feeling well and I had gone to see my doctor in the morning but on my way back, I got stuck in a heavy jam, and was advised to use a boda boda,” Gashumba said.
Gashumba who has made a name as a government critic and social activist is accused of forging documents and impersonating Ministry of Defense officials with intentions to defraud investors.