Court rejects Lakara’s plea
THE General Military Court Martial has rejected an appeal by former Army Chief of Staff, Brig. Nakibus Lakara, for the dismissal of charges of disobeying the commander in-chief, Gen. Yoweri Museveni
By Maurice Okore
THE General Military Court Martial has rejected an appeal by former Army Chief of Staff, Brig. Nakibus Lakara, for the dismissal of charges of disobeying the commander in-chief, Gen. Yoweri Museveni.
The court chairman, Lt Gen Elly Tumwine, however, granted the State two weeks to produce the witnesses scheduled to testify against Lakara.
Lakara filed the application through his lawyers, Caleb Alaka and Henry Kunya, after the trial failed to take off because the key witness was reportedly busy.
“I think two weeks are enough for the State to prepare for this trial and to replace the officer conducting operations so that he attends court. But if the failure to produce witnesses becomes a routine, then the court will decide on what to do,†he said.
Tumwine fixed May 26 as the new hearing date.
Lakara is accused of transferring certain undisclosed soldiers between June 2002 and June 2003 against the will of his boss and failing to ascertain the strength of the UPDF between November 2001 and June 2003.
Lakara also faces separate charges of neglecting his duty, abuse of office and causing a financial loss to the Government.
He is among the senior officers accused of creating ghost soldiers on the UPDF payroll.
THE General Military Court Martial has rejected an appeal by former Army Chief of Staff, Brig. Nakibus Lakara, for the dismissal of charges of disobeying the commander in-chief, Gen. Yoweri Museveni.
The court chairman, Lt Gen Elly Tumwine, however, granted the State two weeks to produce the witnesses scheduled to testify against Lakara.
Lakara filed the application through his lawyers, Caleb Alaka and Henry Kunya, after the trial failed to take off because the key witness was reportedly busy.
“I think two weeks are enough for the State to prepare for this trial and to replace the officer conducting operations so that he attends court. But if the failure to produce witnesses becomes a routine, then the court will decide on what to do,†he said.
Tumwine fixed May 26 as the new hearing date.
Lakara is accused of transferring certain undisclosed soldiers between June 2002 and June 2003 against the will of his boss and failing to ascertain the strength of the UPDF between November 2001 and June 2003.
Lakara also faces separate charges of neglecting his duty, abuse of office and causing a financial loss to the Government.
He is among the senior officers accused of creating ghost soldiers on the UPDF payroll.