DPP withdraws treason charges against ejected MP

By Michael Odeng

Former Bubulo West MP, Tony Kipoi Nsubuga is finally a free man after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) withdrew treason charges against him.

Kipoi has been facing treason charges at the Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court. He was jointly charged with seven other UPDF soldiers. Prosecution failed to adduce evidence after failing to get prosecution witnesses to testify against the suspects.

Kipoi first appeared in court in 2012 over allegations of recruiting people into rebel activities and was later released on a sh10m cash bail by High Court Judge, Lameck Mukasa. 

“The DPP has no interest in the case because the case was supposed to be tried by Court Martial,” state prosecutor Barbra Masinde told court presided over by Justice Rugadya Atwookion Thursday at High Court in Kampala.

Defense lawyer Dalton Oponya had earlier on told court that the DPP had failed to get evidence to pin the co-accused who were still on remand.  They have been released.

It is alleged that the legislator has been recruiting personnel from Ugandan security as well as Congolese rebels belonging to COGAI, a rebel group based in Bunia in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo.