Kashaka Charged, Granted Cash Bail

Sep 24, 2002

A CALM and seemingly relaxed Brig. Stephen Kashaka yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Ngora county MP Dr Francis Epetait at Entebbe Chief Magistrate’s Court.

By Maurice Okore
A CALM and seemingly relaxed Brig. Stephen Kashaka yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Ngora county MP Dr Francis Epetait at Entebbe Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Kashaka, who is Uganda’s military attaché to Tanzania, was granted a cash bail of sh400,000.

The Entebbe Resident State Attorney, Frank Rusa Nyakana, told the court that inquiries in the case were complete and a hearing date was fixed for October 28.

Rubaga North MP Ken Lukyamuzi is expected to testify as a witness in the case.

A smartly dressed Kashaka in a cream suit appeared before Chief Magistrate Irene Akankwasa.

He was accompanied to court by the Army Chief of Personnel and Administration, Col. Mark Kodili, in full uniform and his lawyer McDusman Kabega of Tumusiime and Kabega Company Advocates.

His three sureties were Dr. Gilbert Ohairwe, Kashaka’s brother John Muhanguzi and Kodili who told the court that he had been authorised by the Army Chief-of-Staff, Nakibus Lakara, to stand surety for Kashaka.

The Police said Brig. Kashaka boxed Epetait three times as the MP tried to calm him after he had got into a quarrel with Entebbe Airport Security who had refused to allow his driver to park in front of the VIP lounge.

Kashaka allegedly committed the offence on July 12 at about 7:00pm after arriving with Epetait aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Dar-es-Salaam.

Kashaka caused a stir at the court yesterday when he arrived in a convoy of 10 vehicles including three UPDF vehicles with soldiers and four Toyota Prados.

After appearing in court, Kashaka issued a statement asserting his innocence.

The statement did not deny there had been a dispute at Entebbe Airport but said the medical report of injuries suffered by Epetait was fabricated.

Kashaka’s statement said Epetait was admitted to Mulago on July 16, four days after the event. A senior consultant surgeon examined him but he was discharged on July 17 with no injuries detected.

The statement said another medical report dated July 15 was subsequently produced claiming Epetait had suffered serious injuries to his liver and other organs.

It queried how the alleged injuries were not spotted the following day in Mulago.

It concluded that Kashaka was planning to sue those who had fabricated the medical report maliciously.

Kashaka said he respected the due process of law and looked forward to his name being cleared by the court.
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