URA man on treason
Nov 21, 2002
A REFORM Agenda supporter accused of financing the Lords’ Resistance Army rebellion was yesterday charged with treason and remanded in Luzira prison
By Maurice Okore
A REFORM Agenda supporter accused of financing the Lords’ Resistance Army rebellion was yesterday charged with treason and remanded in Luzira prison.
Simon Tolit, a Senior Principal Revenue officer at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), is said to have been in contact with James Opoka, who authorities believe has joined the LRA ranks.
Tolit was arrested recently after security agents reportedly tapped a telephone conversation he had with Opoka about raising funds for rebel activities.
Tolit appeared yesterday before Buganda road Court Magistrate Martin Mungao who remanded him until December 9.
Mungao advised Tolit to seek bail through the High Court because the court lacks jurisdiction over treason cases.
On Wednesday morning, a Reform Agenda official, Louis Otika, said Tolit was missing after being picked by security officials.
Tolit is the latest of over 10 reformists, who have since last year’s presidential elections been charged over subversive activities.
Reform Agenda is a political pressure group headed by exiled former presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye.
Prosecutor Brian Opira informed the packed courtroom that between November 2001 and November 2002 in Gulu, Jinja and Kampala, the accused and others still at large contrived a plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms.
Opira said Tolit offered financial and material assistance to LRA, a rebel force that was recently declared a terrorist organisation by the international community.
A REFORM Agenda supporter accused of financing the Lords’ Resistance Army rebellion was yesterday charged with treason and remanded in Luzira prison.
Simon Tolit, a Senior Principal Revenue officer at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), is said to have been in contact with James Opoka, who authorities believe has joined the LRA ranks.
Tolit was arrested recently after security agents reportedly tapped a telephone conversation he had with Opoka about raising funds for rebel activities.
Tolit appeared yesterday before Buganda road Court Magistrate Martin Mungao who remanded him until December 9.
Mungao advised Tolit to seek bail through the High Court because the court lacks jurisdiction over treason cases.
On Wednesday morning, a Reform Agenda official, Louis Otika, said Tolit was missing after being picked by security officials.
Tolit is the latest of over 10 reformists, who have since last year’s presidential elections been charged over subversive activities.
Reform Agenda is a political pressure group headed by exiled former presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye.
Prosecutor Brian Opira informed the packed courtroom that between November 2001 and November 2002 in Gulu, Jinja and Kampala, the accused and others still at large contrived a plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms.
Opira said Tolit offered financial and material assistance to LRA, a rebel force that was recently declared a terrorist organisation by the international community.