Kitatta returns to court today

PIC: Heavy deployment at the General Court Martial on a wet Tuesday morning. (Credit: Margaret Zalwango)

CRIME

KAMPALA - Bodaboda 2010 patron Abdallah Kitatta and his co-acussed are back in court today, 14 days after refusing to take plea on charges of unlawful possession of firearms.

When the accused showed up at the General Court Martial a fortnight ago, they argued they are civilians and were not supposed to be tried at the army court, which is located in Makindye.

By the end of the session, they were remanded to Luzira Prison in Kampala after spending a month at Kigo Prison.

Kitatta and co declined to take plea, telling army court chairman Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti they are not soldiers to undergo trial at the General Court Martial.

Besides Kitatta, the other accused persons are Sowali Ngobi, Amon Twinomujuni, Joel Kibirige, Matia Ssenfuka, Hassan Sebatta, Johnson Kayondo, Hassan Sengooba, Sunday Ssemwogerere, John Ssebandeke, Hussein Mugema, Fred Bwanika and Ibrahim Ssekajja.

Kitatta and his 10 co-accused are battling charges of unlawful possession of military hardware. Upon conviction, the offence attract a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The military equipment in question include two pistols and 30 rounds of ammunition for a submachine gun.

The army court dropped charges of failure to protect war material against the accused.

Prosecution alleges that the accused on January 21, 2018, while at Vine Hotel, located at Wakaliga, in a motor vehicle Reg No. UAK 135 B, were found in possession of a submachine gun without holding a valid firearms certificate.

According to prosecution, the said ammunition are ordinarily a monopoly of the defence forces. 

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Kitatta remanded to Luzira until February 27