Comedian Charles Kasozi popularly known as MC Mariachi and his bodyguard Michael Bunjo in court. COURTESY PHOTO
Standup comedian Charles Kasozi popularly known as MC Mariachi and his bodyguard Michael Bunjo who were arrested at the weekend for allegedly assaulting a traffic officer and tearing his uniform have survived being remanded to Luzira Prison.
Mariachi and Bunjo were yesterday taken to Mwanga II Magistrate’s Court and charged with careless driving, obstructing an officer on lawful duty, causing damage to government stores and assault.
Prosecution told court yesterday that the 30-year-old Comedian signed to Comedy Store Uganda and his bodyguard on Saturday at about 8pm at Mengo in Kampala attacked PC Eldard Kamugisha, a police officer attached to Old Kampala Police Station Traffic Department by hitting him with an elbow on the face while performing his lawful duties.
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Court further heard that the comedian who was driving a vehicle registration number UAZ 127T on a one-way road was stopped, questioned and cautioned regarding the offence he had committed.
The comedian was released on bail and ordered to return to court after two weeks for further mention.
Shortly after his release, some of his colleagues, especially comedians criticized musicians for not showing up at court given the fact that he (Mariachi) has appeared in several music videos of local artists.
“We are angry with musicians. None of them attended MC Mariachi’s court proceedings. We (comedians) always stand with them in their times of trouble but they have showed that they don’t care about us,” said comedian Richard Katumba popularly known as Kabaata.
Mariachi’s wife, Lydia Mirembe said she was happy that he had been released adding that she doubts he ever attacked a police officer.
“He has never even beaten me. I doubt he attacked that police officer. I’m happy that his friends attended court. It’s a sign that we need each other even in times of trouble,” she said.
After the said beating, the officer was taken to Mulago Referral Hospital for medical attention.
Authorities say Mariachi’s incident comes as the third deliberate attack on traffic officers this year.
Two days ago Cpl. Alice Nnalongo Nakandi who has been guiding traffic for over a decade now was knocked down by a boda boda rider as she directed traffic flow around Bugolobi junction.
In March this year, Cpl Wilfred Tweituk, a traffic officer attached to old Kampala police station was knocked dead by a bus owned by Devine Bus Company while on duty along Kabakanjagala-Nabunya junction along Rubaga road.