Muntu to stand surety for Tumukunde 

JUSTICE       COURT

KAMPALA - Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation is one of the prominent personalities expected to stand surety of former security minister Lt. Gen. (rtd) Henry Tumukunde.

Close sources said Tumukunde's wife, Stella and one of their children might also stand surety for Tumukunde. Tumukunde is asking the court to release him on bail, pending trial.

Tumukunde, 61, is currently in Luzira Prison over treason and unlawful possession of firearms. According to his lawyer, Anthony Wameli, his team will present the sureties as one of the conditions for his release on bail.

In September 2018, Muntu quit Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) citing ideological differences with the new leadership led by Patrick Amuriat and formed his movement known as Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). Around 2008, Muntu unsuccessfully contested for the FDC presidency against Kizza Besigye, before he was elected as party president in 2012.

On Monday, Justice Wilson Kwesiga, the head of the Criminal Division of the High Court, directed lawyers representing Tumukunde to file written submissions for his bail application.

The judge justified the written submission, saying it is in line with the presidential precautionary directives in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Kwesiga said Tumukunde's bail application will not be conducted in open court.

"With the risk posed by the coronavirus and pursuant to government guidelines to prevent the dangers associated with the avoidable public gathering, Tumukunde's bail application will not be conducted in open court," Kwesiga said in a statement issued on Monday.

He ordered Tumukunde's lawyers to make written submissions and serve the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not later than March 28, this year. The DPP will make a written reply to the bail application by April 3. 

Tumukunde's lawyers have also been ordered to file a rejoinder to the DPP's reply not later than April 6. Justice Kwesiga then set April 14 as the date he will give a verdict on whether Tumukunde deserves to be freed on bail.

The judge also directed that all pretrial proceedings be transferred from City Hall Court to Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court, which is connected to the video link system with Luzira Prison.

On Wednesday last week, President Museveni announced sweeping restrictions across the country as part of preventive measures against the coronavirus outbreak. Uganda has so far confirmed 18 cases of coronavirus.

Allegations

It is alleged that Tumukunde on March 5, 2020, at NBS Television in Kamwokya, Kampala, during the Morning Breeze show said: "If I was Rwanda, I would wish to support people who want to cause change in Uganda," which according to the state, was aimed at instigating the Republic of Rwanda to invade Uganda to cause an unlawful change of government.

The prosecution further alleges that Tumukunde, on March 13, 2020 at Impala Avenue Kololo, had in his possession a modified AK-47 rifle N0. 19865-BU3618 and a star pistol N0. EL-860030, without holding a valid firearms certificate.