Kabamba attack suspects reject state attorney

SUSPECTS in the botched attack on Kabamba Army Barracks in Mubende district have rejected State Attorney Maj. Raphael Mugisha from prosecuting their case.

On Monday, the 14 suspects rejected the prosecutor on grounds that he acted as the judges' advocate (judges' legal advisor) to former General Court Martial chairman Brig Moses Ddiba Ssentongo when they first appeared before court on May 20, 2014.   

The suspects through their new lawyer Fredrick Semwanga asked the presiding chairman Maj. Gen. Levi Karuhanga, to disregard the prosecutor, saying he misled court during his tenure when he refused one of the accused, John Bosco Lutwama who passed away, from accessing treatment at Bombo Military Hospital.

Lutwama who was detained at Makindye Military Police headquarters died of Pneumonia in 2014.

"The state prosecutor was the judge's advocate at the time my clients were charged in court. So there is no way he can prosecute our case," Semwanga argued.

State prosecutor Maj. Fredrick Kangwamu who was redeployed to Somalia, prosecuted the case.  

They suspects include Lt. Col. Phillip Frank Eguma, 42, Lt. Ronald Waibi Mwavu, 36, Lt. Phillip Frank Eguma, Pte Kenneth Ssekajja, 32 and Sgt. Nduga Musaazi.

Others are Nasim Namuzimuule, 52, Marvin Ssemwogerere Kato, 33, John Lumala Salongo, Patrick Kibuuka, Solomon Matovu, Peter Kibirige, Herbert Biyimbwa, 54, Ali Mukiibi, 68, and Francis Kiwanuka.

The suspects include five UPDF soldiers and nine civilians including one woman.

The 14 suspects are accused of attacking a military barracks in Mubende district with intention to overthrow government, have rejected a prosecution witness on grounds of his alleged criminal record.

The accused are facing charges related to security and aiding the commission of an offence contrary to the UPDF Act 2005.

Prosecution alleges that suspects between September 2013 and May 2014 in various districts in Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya consciously omitted to disclose vital information to the army authorities about the recruitment of people to engage in activities to prejudice the security of UPDF and preparations to attack Armored Warfare Training School (AWTS) in Mubende district.

The case has been adjourned to January 17, 2015.