Gowon Committed To The High Court

Jul 17, 2002

THE former Chief of Staff in the defunct Uganda Army under Idi Amin, Maj. Gen. Yusuf Gowon was yesterday committed to the High Court to answer charges of murdering Eliphazi Laki.

By Hillary KiiryaTHE former Chief of Staff in the defunct Uganda Army under Idi Amin, Maj. Gen. Yusuf Gowon was yesterday committed to the High Court to answer charges of murdering Eliphazi Laki.Grade one magistrate Sylvia Namubiru ordered the committal of Yusuf Gowon, 72, Sgt. Nasur Gille, 53 and Pte. Mohammed Anyule after the DPP said he was ready to adduce evidence. Gowon and Gille had their bail, cancelled and were immediately remanded to Luzira prison.The trio are residents of Kisasi road in Nakawa division, Kenya village in Olli division, Arua Municipality, and Kura Villager Omba parish Yumbe district respectively.A letter from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Richard Butera, said he has sufficient evidence to sustain charges of murder and kidnapping with intent to murder against the accused.Prosecution led by Baxter Bakibinga told court that in September 1972 at Ibanda sub-county headquarters in Mbarara district, the trio murdered Eliphaz Laki, the then sub-county chief of Ntungamo.The DPP has laid a list of witnesses including Duncan Muhumuza, a son to the late. He is an advocate of the High Court working with Muhumuza-Laki, Twesigyire & Co. Advocates.Gowon was arrested last year after a tip off from officials of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) after a co-accused, Anyule, attempted to change the registration number of a vehicle that belonged to the late.Gowon was then commander of Simba Battalion in Mbarara at the time of the murder.He allegedly ordered the kidnap and subsequent disappearance of Laki.He was arrested last year after the vehicle reg. no. UYO 010, that belonged to Laki was recovered from Anyule who was his driver. Anyule claims the vehicle was given to him by Gowon and had changed the vehicle registration to his name.Anyule allegedly confessed during arrest that Gowon asked him and his colleague to go to Ibanda and arrest Laki because he was against Amin’s government.Ends

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