The Amuru Grade I Magistrate’s Court on Thursday granted bail to 16 suspects who were arrested in connection with the violence that rocked the contentious Amuru- Adjumani borders demarcation in September.
The release of the suspects brought to 33 the total number of suspects released on bail so far in connection with the controversial border demarcation. A week before the latest release, the court had granted bail to 17 suspects.
The suspects were granted bail after one of their lawyers, Conrad Oroya applied for bail before the Amuru Grade 1 Magistrate, Edward Okot.
Ponsiano Okello, the State Prosecution raised no objection on the application for bail, but asked the Magistrate to put stringent conditions on the bail of the accused.
In his ruling, Magistrate Okot ordered that each of the suspects should deposit 50,000 shillings cash as a condition for their release.
The Magistrate also bonded each of the sureties on a non cash fee of one million shillings.
Okot warned politicians against using the Apaa case to gain political capital.
He also observed that while the local communities are Apaa are suffering, the politicians are busy using their plight for political gains.
The Magistrate Court has set December 4, as date for hearing of the case.
Meanwhile a group of seven men including two who are alleged to have been the ring leaders of the protest over the land demarcation are still on remand at Gulu Central Government Prisons.
Since 2012, Apaa has been a hot bed of violence as government and locals disagree over the rightful ownership of the disputed 40sqKm land.
In the process, security agencies including the police and the army have on various occasions been called in quell the situation leading to arrests.
The Apaa suspects have been charged with three counts of inciting violence, participating in illegal assembly and malicious damage to property following the violence which marred the planting of mark stones by officials from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
