The Kitgum Chief Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to musician and political figure Bosmic Joyce Otim. The magistrate ruled that concerns about online threats and public hostility could not override his constitutional right to liberty.
Chief Magistrate Robert Ekirita on Tuesday released Otim on a cash bail of two million shillings after his lawyers corrected documentation errors that had led to the rejection of his first bail application a week earlier. The court heard that the earlier application had been declined because of inconsistencies between Otim’s declared residence and the address contained in a Local Council introduction letter.
His lawyers, Robert Okot and Febiuos Ayella, returned with verified documents and five sureties, arguing that Otim had fulfilled all legal requirements for bail. State prosecutor Yusuf Ssozi did not oppose the revised application, explaining that the prosecution’s earlier objection had been based solely on the documentation discrepancy.
Before the court delivered its ruling, the complainant, social media blogger Alfred Joe Okello, also known as KD Kristo Hammer, expressed concern about his safety if Otim was released.
Okello told the court that although Otim had never personally threatened him, he feared some of the musician’s supporters could target him. He cited threatening messages posted on social media by individuals both within Uganda and abroad, as well as confrontations involving some of Otim’s relatives near the court premises.
The defence argued that the complainant’s own testimony demonstrated that Otim himself posed no direct threat. Kilak South Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya, one of the sureties, also argued that comments made by third parties on social media should not be used to deny an accused person bail.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Ekirita agreed that the offence was bailable and held that the concerns raised by the complainant would instead be considered during the trial.
He nevertheless imposed strict bail conditions, ordering Otim not to interfere with witnesses or the complainant and prohibiting him from making public or social media comments about the ongoing case.”Granting bail does not mean the case has ended,” Ekirita told the complainant.
Addressing Otim, he warned him to comply fully with the conditions set by the court. Otim is charged with causing grievous harm under Section 219 of the Penal Code Act. Prosecutors allege that on May 3, 2026, he and others still at large assaulted Okello in Corner Mission Cell, Kitgum Municipality.
His sureties include Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya, his wife Milfrey Adong, Langalanga Cell LC I Chairperson Bernard Ocaya Canogura, musician Alex Ojera Morugut and his maternal uncle Felix Odida. Each executed a non-cash bond of two million shillings.
The case was adjourned to August 4, when the hearing is expected to begin. Meanwhile, community and clan leaders continue efforts to reconcile the two parties outside court-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
