UPDF officer battling illegal firearms charge granted bail

A Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) junior soldier who is battling charges of conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of firearms has been released on bail.

On Tuesday, Nakawa Court Grade One Magistrate, Margaret Aanyu, released Pte Godfrey Galabuzi Musisi on a cash bail of sh100,000 after he presented two substantial sureties.

They included Sam Mayambala and Rashid Lukoda, all relatives of the accused. They were each bonded at sh500,000 not cash.

The court also extended arrest warrants against his co-accused Bernard Mutebi, who is still at large.

State Attorney Joyce Aanyu informed court that inquiries into the matter were still ongoing and asked court for an adjournment to enable Police finalise its investigations.

Prosecution alleges that on May, 16, 2016 at Lugogo Bypass in Kampala, the accused conspired with intent to murder Dr Kenneth Ofubu Bako.

It further alleges that on the same day Musisi was found in the illegal possession of a numberless star pistol with live ammunition.

Musisi was arrested on March, 22, 2017 and detained at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja district where he was allegedly interrogated over the murder of former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi. 

He was arrested alongside his wife and two others that were later released by Police.

On March 17, 2017 Kaweesi was shot dead alongside his body guard Kenneth Erau and driver Geoffrey Mambewo by unknown assailants.

Lawyer George Muhangi, asked court to order prosecution to avail them with evidence they intend to rely on during trial of the case.

Shortly after court, Musisi said the charges were trumped up by his enemies in government to upset him.