By Opka Denis
Kitgum-Kitgum Chief Magistrate court has for the second time on Tuesday denied bail to Bob Williams Labeja, the former Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Nebbi, Moyo, and Nakapiripirit who is on remand over the death of his wife.
Labeja was arrested on February 14th, 2023, and remanded to Kitgum Prison following the death of his wife Jackie Abalo.
Labeja, through his lawyers Tonny Kitara, Eddy Oola, and Komakech Geoffrey had asked court to grant him bail because he is suffering from diabetes and requires proper medication.
However in his ruling, Robert Ekirita, the Chief Magistrate, says although Labeja is a known diabetic patient as shown in his medical form, besides his legal teams meeting all the requirements for bail and also the state prosecutor not objecting, the accused cannot be granted bail because he will interfere with the investigation.
According to Ekirita, the ruling is based on the submission of the parents of the deceased who asked court not to grant the accused bail, because it would jeopardize investigations.
Ekirita who adjourned the matter to March 20th, 2023, says it is still within the constitutional rights of the accused to reapply for another bail in the same court.
The deceased was on March 4th buried at the accused home in Lamit Kapim South Kitgum Municipality after the family paid bride price of 5 million Shillings and, another 4 million Shillings for other items, in addition to 11 cattle and nine goats.