Besigye Treason Suspects Charged

BY Juliet Nankinga and Hillary KiryaTHREE Besigye supporters have been charged with treason and remanded in Kigo Prison, home for terrorism suspects.The men are Rtd Lt Fred Biryomumaiso alias Basigi Baguma alias Albaba, 40, a resident of Port Bell, Rtd Lt. Ali Faraj, 37, of Kisenyi zone, Luzira and Moses Byamukama alias Kato Levi, 25, from Kanyabwanga sub-county, Bushenyi. They appeared before Buganda Road court grade one magistrate Vincent Emmy Mugabo.The Chief of Military Intelligence, Lt. Col. Noble Mayombo, said last week there was enough evidence to link them to rebel activities.Mayombo said Dennis Murindwa, a cousin to former presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye, rented a house for the trio and also provided them with cellphones and transport to meet the contacts to take them to rebel camps.Murindwa, who has gone missing, is wanted in court on treason charges. He vanished from his home in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, on Monday and is believed to have fled the country. Besigye also fled the country.The three suspects looked clean and calm as they showed journalists bruises on their bodies. They boarded a prison truck that was filled with sacks of posho and beans to Kigo Prison. Among those remanded was a woman charged with the murder of Kichwamba students in 1997.Mugabo said the accused could not enter plea since his court lacked jurisdiction. It is a capital offence trial by the High Court only. The magistrate advised them to apply for bail in the High Court.Murindwa, Biryomumaiso, Ali Faraj and Byamukama allegedly plotted to topple government by force of arms. The charge-sheet signed by Detective Superintendent of Police Elly Womanya said the accused expressed a plot by engaging in recruiting people into Uganda People’s Redemption Army (UPRA), a rebel force fighting to overthrow the government.The State also said the accused, knowing about the plot, failed to report it to lawful authorities.This was referred to as an alternative charge and it is triable by the Chief Magistrate.State Prosecutor Brian Makwatte informed the court that inquires into the case were still going on. The men re-appear in court on May 17 for mention of their case.Makwatte said outside court that he was likely to apply for a warrant of arrest against Murindwa if he fails to appear in court on May 17.“If these people do not apprehend him and the case comes for mention for two times, the third time I would apply for a warrant of arrest,” Makwatte said.Ends