The Ntungamo Magistrates Court has acquitted the State Minister for Labour, Mwesigwa Rukutana of all charges leveled against him.
The charges stem from an incident in which he was captured on video grabbing a gun from his escorts and attempting to shoot into a car that was carrying supporters of his rival Naome Kabasharira.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with seven counts of attempted murder, assault, malicious damage, and threatening violence and remanded to Kyamugorani Prison in Mbarara district. He was later released on Shs 4 million cash bail.
It is averred that Rukutana and others at large on 5th September 2020 at Kagugu Village in Ntungamo district unlawfully attempted to cause death of Rweburungi Daniel aka Dan, assaulted Nemanya Jutus, unlawfully damaged motor vehicle UAQ 840 Toyota Rav4 and threaten to kill and injure Muhumuza Moses.
While delivering his judgement, His Worship Gordon Muhimbise acquitted Labour Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana of seven counts he has been battling in this court.
“On the whole I find the evidence adduced in all the seven charges here full of concoctions, full of falsehoods and grave inconsistencies. It is full of nothing but naked lies that no reasonable tribunal or court can convict based on it. It was also greatly discredited during cross examination. I find the defence evidence very consistent and well collaborated and believable,” he ruled.
“In the circumstances, I find that the prosecution has not proved any of these charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt as required by law. I, therefore, find the accused not guilty of all the charges and I do hereby acquit him on all the seven counts,” He ruled.
