Kipoi transfered to Makindye Military detention

PIC: Former Bubulo East MP, Tonny Kipoi Nsubuga arrives General Court Martial in Makindye on March 21, 2018. Kipoi, who is facing treason charges, was remanded in Makindye Military barracks. (Credit: Margaret Zalwango)

CRIME

KAMPALA - The Army court has ordered the embattled former Bubulo West MP Tonny Nsubuga Kipoi to be transferred from Luzira prison to Makindye military police barracks, citing security concerns.

In a special sitting on Wednesday, the General Court Martial (GCM) chaired by Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti made the decision after prosecutor Maj. Raphael Mugisha informed court that queries have arisen over Kipoi's security at Luzira prisons.

"Although on Monday Kipoi was remanded to Luzira prisons until April 24, we are worried about his security considering the charges he is facing," he said.

Mugisha told court that they had received intelligence information over the same. "We pray that this court orders the accused to be relocated to Makindye military police barracks".

However, Kipoi's lawyer rtd. Maj Ronald Iduuli tasked Mugisha to elaborate more about their fear if he (Kipoi) remained at Luzira prisons.

But Gutti ruled that since Kipoi escaped from the country after he had been charged in 2014, it was evident that Luzira prison authorities could not properly manage his security.

Clad in a checked stripped shirt, Kipoi appeared composed before the court chairman. 

On Monday, Kipoi was arraigned before the Army court and charged with treason alongside five soldiers, all attached to the armored brigade in Masaka district.

These are Sgt.Yunus Lemeriga, Cpl Rogers Mweru, Sgt Adams Mawa, Sgt Albino Okeng and Pte Dodola Ijosiga.

It is alleged that the accused and others still at large between November 2012 and December 2013 in diverse places of Kampala, Wakiso, Nakasongola, FortPortal, Ntoroko and Masaka convened meetings to recruit soldiers to jeopardise the security of the country.

The offence of treason attracts a maximum penalty of death while concealment of treason life imprisonment on conviction.  

A bout a month ago, Kipoi was deported back to Uganda on request and negotiations between Botswana government and the External Security Organisation (ESO).

On March, 10, 2018, Kipoi was arraigned before Nakawa Chief Magistrate Jameson Karemani and charged with 22 counts of attempted trafficking in persons and remanded to Luzira prison.

On December 31, 2012 Kipoi, was charged with two counts of treason and concealment of treason at Nakawa Chief Magistrate's court.

He is alleged to have been recruiting people in both Uganda and DRC to overthrow the government. He is also alleged to have been a financer for the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), rebel group.

In 2014, their treason case file was forwarded to the GCM by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

But this was after Kipoi had fled the country in 2013, after being released on a cash bail of sh10m by Justice Lameck Mukasa.

 The Judge had ordered him not to move out of Uganda without written permission from the deputy registrar, Criminal division of the High court.

 He had also been ordered to deposit in court his Uganda and South African passports and a certificate of title for land at block 378, plot 407 Katale Busiro Wakiso district.

 The Judge had equally directed him to report once every two weeks to the commander special investigations unit, Kireka and granted the MP bail on grounds of ill-health.

 Following his escape in 2014, Kipoi was arrested in February, this year in Botswana on accusations of going around masquerading as a witch doctor and defrauded four female victims of more than 290,000 Pula, about (sh111.6m), between May 2017 and January 20, this year.

Also In 2014, parliament fired him for missing 15 sittings without informing the speaker.