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KAMPALA - Seven senior security officers accused of allegedly sharing classified information with Rwandan Authorities have been freed.

The General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala released the officers after the UPDF Director of Prosecutions dropped all charges against them.

The suspects are Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Benon Akandwanaho 31, a Community Liaison officer (CLO) attached to Kiira Police Headquarters, and ASP Frank Sabiiti, 34, a police officer attached to Counter Terrorism Police at Mutukula Boarder post.

The duo was battling offences related to security contrary to Section 130 (1) (f) of the UPDF Act, 2005, which entices a maximum death penalty, upon conviction.

Battling the same charges were Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers, Second Lieutenant (2Lt) Phillip Neville Ankunda, 30, a pilot attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters and an officer of the UPDF Regular Forces and 2Lt Alex Kasamula 31, a resident of Luzira, attached to Military Police.

Others are Privates (Pte) Samuel Nathan Ndwaine, 27, Pte Moses Asiimwe Makobore, 25, and Pte Godfrey Mugabi, 27, all attached to Air Force Wing Nakasongola as students of Flight Engineering and Aircraft Maintenance.

(L-R) Second Lieutenant (2Lt) Alex Kasamula, 2Lt Phillip Neville Ankunda, Private Nathan Samuel Ndiwaine, Pte Moses Asiimwe Makobore and Pte Godfrey Mugabi in dock at the General Court Martial on Tuesday April 16 20214. (Credit: Douglas Mubiru)

When the case came up for mention on Tuesday (April 16, 2024), state prosecutors Captain Ambroz Guma and Lt Alex Mukhwana told the GCM chaired by Brig. Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe that they had instructions to discontinue all charges against the accused.

The prosecutors' averments were contained in a nolle prosequi dated April 16, 2024, and signed by Lt. Col Raphael Mugisha, the UPDF Director of Prosecutions.

“Take note that the Government of the Republic of Uganda intends that the proceedings against the accused persons Kasamula, Ankunda, Ndwane, Makobore, Akandwanaho, and Sabiiti whose names appear in the charge sheet of criminal case no. UPDF/GCM/044/2020 shall not continue,” Mugisha stated.

Without stating reasons for withdrawing the charges, Mugisha added, “This Nolle Prosequi is meant to protect the interests of the State in that, should further evidence be realized against the accused persons in future, they stand to be re-arrested and charged based on the same facts.”

This prompted Gen. Mugabe to discharge the suspects, saying, “The charges against you are discontinued, and you are hereby set free unless held on other lawful charges.”

Lawyers Captain Simon Nsubuga Busagwa and Elizabeth Nyasingwa were the defence counsels.

The charge

Prosecution had asserted that between February and May 2020, while at various places in Kampala district, Sabiiti, Akandwanaho, Ankunda, Kasamula, Ndwaine, Asiimwe, Mugabi, and others still at large, shared sensitive information with agents of Rwandan authorities with intent to prejudice the security of the Defence Forces.