Army Court denies bail
The General Court Martial in Makindye has denied 32 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) following their arrests for illegal possession of explosive devices.
The group is accused of carrying out petrol bomb attacks targeting government vehicles and buildings in various places in the country. They were arrested for plotting attacks on Kasubi Royal Tombs, on former Jinja Resident City Commissioner – Eric Sakwa in Nakulabye, Uganda Registration Services Bureau and at the Katwe Police Station among others.
Prosecution alleges that between November 2020 and May 2021 in the areas of Jinja, Mbale, Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Natete and Kampala Central, the accused were found in illegal possession of 13 pieces of explosive devices which are “ordinarily the monopoly of the defense forces”.
However, Court Martial, presided over by Chairperson Brig. Robert Freeman Mugabe on Monday, refused to grant their bail application filed nine months ago.
This is after the State Prosecutors led by Lt Gift Mubehamwe and Lt Elly Musinguzi of the Special Investigations Bureau of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence stated that the accused would interfere with ongoing investigations or abscond from bail. He gave one example of one Olivia Lutaaya who was granted bail recently on a case of being in the possession of ammunition, only to return to court again.
Court has also heard that one of the accused persons, Muhydin Kakooza, was already convicted of contempt of court and is still serving a sentence of eight months and therefore the accused shouldn’t be given bail.
The prosecution also stated that the sureties presented to the court failed to provide clear identification.
Army Court denies bail
The accused had sought bail on grounds that the charges against them are bailable by the Court Martial and that they have substantial sureties who included their spouses, relatives and parents.
The Court has now fixed 11th October 2022 to decide on the application of the accused who include:
Yasin Ssekitoleko alias Machete, Robert Christopher Rugumayo, Ronald Mayiga, Patrick Mwase, Simon Kijambo, Abdu Matovu, Richard Nyombi, Olivia Lutaaya, Ronald Kijambo, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Mesach Kiwanuka, Abdalla Kintu, Umar Emma Kato and Musa Kavuma.
Others accused persons are Ibrahim Wandera, Asbert Nagwere, Steven Musakulu, Jimmy Galukande, Paul Muwanguzi, Kenneth Kamanya, Sharif Matovu, Shafiq Ngobi, Davis Mafabi, Abdallah Hakim Gibusiwa, Livingstone Katushabe Kigozi, Obalai Siraji Mudebo, Joseph Muganza and Stanley Lwanga.
Defence lawyers led by George Musisi and Remmy Bagenda said that the investigator’s affidavit was full of speculation and hearsay because he was not in court when the bail application was being heard.
Musisi added that some of the issues Musinguzi was raising such as the substantiality of sureties are a matter that can only be determined by the Court unless he is privy to the pending decision.
Musisi further added that the investigator is objecting to the bail of Kakooza, a person who didn’t apply, which indicates that he is not well versed with the facts of this case.
He thus asked Court to reject the evidence contained in Musinguzi’s affidavit, go ahead and release his clients pending determination of the case.
The applicants have been further remanded to Luzira Prison.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
