Makindye, Uganda | URN | The General Court Martial in Makindye has remanded 49 supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform [NUP] party to Kigo and Kitalya government prisons until January 19, 2021.
The suspects were on Friday 8, January 2021 arraigned before court presided over by Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti and charged with illegal possession of ammunition.
Prosecution alleges that the accused persons and others still at large on January 3, 2021 while at Makerere Kavule, Kigundu Zone, Kawempe Division were found in possession of four rounds of ammunition of an AK-47 rifle, which is the monopoly of the defence forces.
The accused persons who have been arraigned in court include the head of NUP presidential candidate Bobi Wine aka Robert Kyagulanyi’s personal security detail; Edward Ssebufu alias Eddie Mutwe and best friend Ali Bukeni alias Nubian Li.
Others are Rachael Tusiime Akiiki, Saphinah Nansove, Jamirah Namwanje Kalyango, Hassan Ssemakula alias Abdul Souldier, Kenny Kyalimpa, Mudde Ntambi, William Nyanzi alias Mbogo, Lukeman Mwijukye alias Kampala, Miiro John, Muhammad Nsubuga alias Edobozi.
Others are William Ntege alias Kyuma Kyayesu, Adam Matovu, Shakirah Nambozo alias Sukie, Ibrahim Tamale, Muzafuru Mwanje alias Main Gate alias Muwa, Ismail Nyanzi Kaddu, Stanley Kafuko alias Kysta, Achileo Kivumbi, Joseph Onzima alias Tawa and among others.
The suspects were first arrested on December 30, 2020, from Kalangala district during Kyagulanyi’s campaign trail. On the same day, Kyagulanyi was also picked up by security personnel and airlifted to Kampala before being driven to his home in Wakiso district.
But the majority of the accused persons who have been arraigned in the court-martial were kept under police custody and later produced before Masaka Chief Magistrate’s court presided over by Charles Yeteise a few days ago, where they were charged with inciting violence and doing acts that were most likely to spread the infectious disease.
At the court martial, the accused’s lawyers Medard Lubega Sseggona, Benjamin Katana and Chrystom Katumba were blocked from accessing court premises. Also, journalists were blocked from accessing court and security informed this reporter that court today was out of reach for non-security officers.
Our reporter saw an army ambulance registration number H4DF 2168 at the court premises taking some of the accused persons away from court in shifts.
Read Also: Bobi Wine’s bodyguard Eddie Mutwe remanded over assaulting police officers
According to sources, the accused persons were represented in court by Maj. Samuel Maserejje while the army prosecution was represented by Captain Ambrose Baguma who informed the court that the investigations are incomplete. Baguma asked the court for an adjournment to enable them to finalise with the investigations.
Accordingly, Lt. Gen. Gutti remanded the accused persons up to January 19. Sseggona accused the state of trumping up charges against members of the opposition.
