UgandaToday: Leaked Charge Sheet Throws Government Statements Into Question as Court Intern Remanded Over Kyagulanyi Case
By Uganda Today Reporter
A leaked court charge sheet reportedly indicating criminal proceedings against opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has sparked controversy after a law student intern was remanded to prison for allegedly circulating the document, raising questions about earlier government statements that no one was pursuing the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader.
The development has reignited debate over contradictions between official security pronouncements and emerging judicial records related to Kyagulanyi.
Court Intern Remanded Over Alleged Leak
A Grade One Magistrate’s Court in Gulu remanded Gloria Grace Laker, a law student intern attached to the High Court circuit in Gulu, over allegations of photographing and sharing confidential judicial records linked to Kyagulanyi.
Laker, who is pursuing a Diploma in Law at the Law Development Centre, appeared before Magistrate Miriam Amoro and denied the charges when they were read to her.
Prosecution alleges that between March 6 and March 9, 2026, Laker accessed the criminal court register at the High Court in Gulu, photographed entries referencing a criminal case involving Kyagulanyi, and circulated the images on social media without authorization.
The alleged offence is said to involve unauthorized dissemination of official judicial records, which prosecutors argue may contravene provisions of Uganda’s Computer Misuse laws and court confidentiality rules.
Her bail application could not immediately proceed after the state attorney handling the matter failed to appear in court. The magistrate consequently remanded her until March 17, 2026 when the court will hear her bail request.
Leaked Register Suggests Charges Against Kyagulanyi
According to copies of the criminal register that circulated online, the entry referenced a case in which Kyagulanyi is allegedly accused of making false statements concerning a person’s character, an offence reportedly linked to Section 25 of Uganda’s Penal Code Act.
The case is said to have been first registered at Gulu Police Station earlier in March, although authorities have not publicly released comprehensive details about the alleged charges.
The leaked entry quickly spread on social media platforms, prompting legal and political debate about both the authenticity of the record and the legality of its disclosure.
Contradictions With Earlier Government Statements
The emergence of the alleged charge sheet has drawn attention to earlier statements from government and security officials who had repeatedly maintained that Kyagulanyi was not wanted by the state.
In recent days, the spokesperson of the Uganda Police Force, the acting spokesperson of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, and officials from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance had publicly stated that the opposition politician was “a free person” and that security agencies were not searching for him.
Those assurances came amid speculation about Kyagulanyi’s safety and movements following heightened political tensions.
However, the leaked criminal register entry appearing to list charges against the NUP president has prompted critics to question whether the government’s public messaging has been consistent with the actions of law enforcement and judicial authorities.
Political Fallout
Supporters of Kyagulanyi argue that the remand of the intern reflects an attempt to suppress information about a politically sensitive case.
Kyagulanyi himself has suggested that the student was punished merely for exposing evidence of legal proceedings involving him.
Legal observers say the matter raises broader questions about transparency within Uganda’s justice system and the treatment of trainees or court staff who handle sensitive records.
Growing Debate Over Judicial Transparency
The incident has also triggered discussions within legal circles about the handling of confidential court records and the responsibilities of interns attached to the judiciary.
Students from the Law Development Centre are routinely placed at courts across the country as part of their practical training, where they assist with administrative and legal tasks under supervision.
As investigations continue, the case involving Gloria Grace Laker—and the leaked charge sheet referencing Kyagulanyi—appears likely to intensify political and legal debate in the coming days.
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