Bobi Wine used us for his political gains — bomb suspects

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KAMPALA - A section of jailed National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters have castigated their party President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine for allegedly using them into wrongdoing to fulfil his political ambitions.

After admitting to belonging to a rebel group dubbed ‘Bali Bali’ which aimed to overthrow the Government of Uganda with 30 pieces of bombs, the group sought forgiveness from the state, accusing former presidential hopeful (Kyagulanyi) of leading them into trouble.

“I’m Sanya Muhydin Kakooza aka Musayi Gwa Bobi. I request the President to look into our case. We are sorry, the man (Kyagulanyi) uses our case to earn money. I advise Kyagulanyi to go back to the stage, he cannot lead this country,” one of the suspects Muhymdin Kakooza said as he was led into a military Police patrol vehicle to return him and his co-accused to Luzira Prison.

The suspects also said nobody coerced them into admitting the charges, saying “None of us is going or will ever disrupt peace again in this country".

Kakooza was among the 15 suspects who confessed to charges of treachery and unlawful possession of ammunition on October 15, 2024.

The charges contravene sections 129 (a) of the UPDF Act, 2005, 3 (1) and (2) (a) of the Firearms Act, Cap 299, respectively and elicit a maximum death sentence of 10-year jail term, on conviction.

Kakooza’s co-accused who also confessed to the charges included Olivia Lutaya, Rashid Ssegujja, Robert Rugumayo, Simon Kijambo, Abdu Matovu, Ronald Kijambo, Mesach Kiwanuka, Ibrahim Wandera, Asbert Nagwere, Steven Musakulu, Davis Mafabi, Livingstone Kigozi Katushabe, Swaibu Katabi and Stanley Lwanga.

The group, after confession, now awaits the prosecution's brief facts, which will be read to them on October 21, 2024, before the General Court Martial (GCM) chaired by Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe at Makindye in Kampala.

Bobi Wine's stand

However, following the confessions of some of the NUP supporters on October 14, 2024, Bobi Wine took to X,  formerly Twitter accusing the Government of coersing the suspects into confession: "Today, I have learned that 19 of the original 32 political prisoners on the #OliviaLutaaya file have succumbed to regime coercion and pleaded guilty to crimes they did not commit after enduring nearly four years of detention without trial. It has also come to light that Mr. Museveni’s minister, Balaam, visited these political prisoners on Saturday —a non-visitation day— and pressured them to plead guilty and seek Museveni’s forgiveness or else they would never leave prison". 

National Unity Platform’s Olivia Lutaya leaves court to a waiting prison van after hearing their case at the General Court Martial at Makindye in Kampala on Monday (October 14, 2024). (Credit: Douglas Mubiru)

Not guilty

Though the latter accepted the charges, their 14 co-accused: Yasin Ssekitoleko, Ronald Mayiga, Patrick Mwase, Richard Nyombi, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Abdalla Kintu, Umar Emma Kato, Musa Kavuma, Jimmy Galukande, Kenneth Kamya, Sharif Matovu, Shafiq Ngobi, and Abdallah Hakim Gibusiwa still maintain their innocence and will continue facing trial.

Bobi Wine also 'saluted' those who have maintained their plea of not guilty: "While we understand the frustration and desperation of those who have pleaded guilty, I salute their 9 other fellow prisoners of conscience who continue to demand a fair trial or their freedom. The day of justice is near". 

Court records indicate nine prosecution witnesses have so far testified with prosecutors, promising over 15 others (witnesses).

Sentenced

However, earlier this month, three of the total 32 suspects confessed to the charges, were convicted and sentenced to five years in jail and a caution, respectively.

They are Paul Muwanguzi, 46; Siraj Obali Mudebo, 67 and Joseph Muganza, 49, and the court reduced their sentence to four months and one day in prison after mitigating factors.

Lawyers Captain Simon Nsubuga Busagwa and Elizabethe Nyasingwa are representing the accused whereas Col Raphael Mugisha, Captain Ambroz Guma and Captain Gift Mubehamwe are prosecuting the case.

The charge

Prosecution alleges that between March and May 2021 in diverse areas of Kampala Metropolitan (Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Natete, Nakasero), Jinja and Mbale cities, respectively under a force called Bali Bali group, the accused and their co-accused still on trial engaged themselves in war or war like activities against the Government of Uganda to wit; you recruited, trained and unlawfully detonated explosive devices ordinarily the monopoly of the Defence Forces onto motor vehicles and other infrastructure in the aforementioned areas for purposes prejudicial to the national security.

It is further alleged that between November 2020 and May 12, 2021, in diverse areas of Jinja, Mbale, Kireka, Nakurabye, Kawempe, Natete, and Kampala Central, the accused had explosive devices which are ammunition ordinarily the monopoly of the Defence Forces.