Security tight as court delivers Tumukunde verdict

Apr 18, 2013

Security has been beefed up at the General Court Martial as verdict is expected to be delivered today.

BY PASCAL KWESIGA       
    
Security has been beefed up at the General Court Martial as verdict is expected to be delivered today  in a case in which a senior UPDF officer, Brig Henry Tumukunde is charged with spreading harmful propaganda, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline of the defense forces. The court is presided over by Brig. Fred Tolit.


Tumukunde is accused of having committed the offences on May 5, 2005 when he was hosted on a talk show on Radio One in Kampala without authorization from "appropriate" authorities. He was charged before the same court on May 30, 2005.

According to the UPDF act of 2005 under which Tumukunde was charged, a person subject to military law who spreads harmful propaganda, commits an offence and is, on conviction where there is failure of operation or loss of life, liable to suffer death, or in any other case liable to life imprisonment.

The act defines spreading harmful propaganda as discouraging soldiers from carrying out an operation, speculation about an operation, making written or oral statements ill of the defense forces or the government not being constructive criticism and spreading false stories intended to undermine the support for or morale of members of the defense forces.

Any officer convicted of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline of the army is liable to dismissal with disgrace from the defense forces, according to the act.

Throughout the trial that has been presided over by five court chairpersons since 2005, Tumukunde Tumukunde who is the former director of Internal Security Organizationhas always protested his protracted prosecution.

 

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