Police detective pins 29 over treason

By Farooq Kasule & Michael Odeng                                 

A police officer Wednesday told court that a grenade and four lists of names of Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF/A) ex-combatants were recovered from one of the Key suspects' house.
        
Alex Afemia, a detective inspector of police attached to Arua Police Station told court that police recovered a surgical glove, a memo written to the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) former president, Olara Otunu and a Nokia mobile phone connected to a satellite meant to ease communication.
         
Afemia was testifying before Justice Frank Rugadya Atwooki.  The items were recovered from suspect Mustafa Atama Kuri's home at Ifolo village, Dadam Sub-county in Arua district.
           
The court heard that he used a "snow mark" to name the recovered items and later all the officers and two local officials signed on the police form but the suspect and his wife refused to sign it.

          
  Some of the 29 treason suspects appearing before the High Court in Kampala on June 24, 2015.  PHOTO/Abou Kisige

Afemia said the search followed a team of counter-terrorism police from Kampala that was led by detective Suspretendant of Police, Patrick Wacha who asked him to escort them to the suspect's house.

He added that local council officials - Jackson Elima and Moses Ezuma were also present during the search.

Testimony
           
"I and my colleagues identified ourselves as police officers who had come for a search in his home. At first he rejected but we pressured him and asked his wife to give us the keys. I then opened the door, entered the house and found ammunitions that were going to be used to overthrow the government," Afemia narrated.
            
According to court documents, the accused persons in 2009, including Dr. Bernard Onen, Lawrence Kiwanuka, Donasisno Oneka and Haji Yasin Nyanzi hatched a plan to overthrow the government of Uganda.

The suspects on run date are alleged to have formed a rebel group known as Uganda National Front/ Army.
          
The accused persons include Swaib Migadde, Richard Okot, Samson Semala, Musa Lutwama, Christopher Anewa, Geofrey Wanichan, Charles Ovaya, Dauda Gudoi, police constable Sam Gibzui Zamba, Leonard Eloba, Emmanuel Osako and Capt. Okello Charles.
             
Others are Abbas Ahabib Yimani, Philip Omwony, Yunus Odaga, Abdul Ochan, Justine Okecha, Mario Othuman, Charles Ebietu, Florence Alyano, Justine Okecha, Asedri Oyeny, Jackson Ochen, Idd Bariki, Charles Okongo, Fred Ongom, William Owachangiu and Charles Oulanya. The suspects are battling charges of treason.
       
During cross examination by defense lawyer Charles Dalton Oponya, Afemia failed to identify the marks he allegedly put on exhibits like mobile phones and the list of names of the ex-combats.
        
Prosecution alleges that that the suspects used Nairobi and Kisumu in Kenya as their bases for planning, plotting, meeting, mobilization and coordinating their activities.
         
It's further alleged that in year 2010, one Mukiibi convinced Migadde to support the UNF rebel group and travelled to Nairobi where he met Haji Nyanzi at Hill Top Hotel and was appointed overall coordinator to recruit men especially ex-combatants to join the rebellion in Uganda.
            
The accused persons were arrested in different parts of the country and charged at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court with two counts of treason and concealment of treason.

They were later committed to High Court in Kampala for trial.
           
They were arrested in Mbuya, Kinawataka, Kalerwe, all in Kampala and in upcountry districts like Mbale, Soroti, Jinja and Gulu. 
          
It's further alleged that Mukiibi was given money to facilitate the recruitment and mobilization process in Uganda as well as acquire arms in northern Uganda.

The money was allegedly for procuring a motorcycle UDU 546F, fuel and mobile phones that were connected to satellite.
          
Prosecution further alleges that the suspects in June 2011 agreed to launch an attack on police stations in Kampala.

The court proceeding is being interpreted by seven people.