Gulu, Uganda: The National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Northern Uganda, Dr Lina Zedriga Waru, has been remanded after court granted the State time to verify documents of her sureties in a bail application.
His Worship Augustine Alule Koma, Chief Magistrate of the Gulu High Court Circuit, adjourned the matter to February 24, 2026, for a ruling on the bail request.
Dr. Zedriga was charged on February 6 with incitement to violence following a public appearance she made after allegedly being held incommunicado for three weeks.
During proceedings, defense lawyer Jonathan Elotu presented four sureties to secure her release on bail. However, Resident State Attorney Patricia Edyedo requested two weeks to authenticate the sureties’ documents.
The defense objected, arguing that Zedriga is a first-time offender of advanced age with substantial responsibilities and has already spent several days in detention. They instead proposed that the prosecution be given two hours to verify the documents.
In his ruling, Magistrate Alule described the two-week request as excessive and the two-hour proposal as insufficient. He consequently remanded Dr. Zedriga and fixed February 24 for the ruling, giving the prosecution time to complete verification.
Dr. Zedriga was initially presented via video link, but poor internet connectivity disrupted proceedings. Her lawyers successfully requested that she be physically produced in court, noting that she was being held at Gulu Main Prison.
“We questioned why she should appear on Zoom when she was in Gulu Prison and the internet connection was problematic,” her counsel told reporters.
Her daughter, Mungu-Niru, thanked supporters for standing with the family. “She was produced here in Gulu last week and remanded to Luzira Prison. We saw her and she is strong. We are here to ask for bail and we hope justice will prevail,” she said.
Speaking outside court, Elotu criticized prolonged adjournments in politically sensitive cases. “We have seen it over and over again that the state tends to keep people in detention for long periods. But our resolve is strong. I spoke to Dr. Zedriga and she remains strong,” he said.
Dr. Zedriga remains in custody pending the court’s ruling later this month.
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