Army court denies summoning Besigye
Mar 07, 2006
THE General Court Martial (GCM) has put on hold the trial of Col. Kizza Besigye, the FDC president, who is facing charges of terrorism.
By Maurice Okore and Geresom Musamali
THE General Court Martial (GCM) has put on hold the trial of Col. Kizza Besigye, the FDC president, who is facing charges of terrorism.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Kampala, UPDF deputy chief of legal services Maj. Kagoro Asingura said the trial of Besigye and 22 others had been stayed pending a Supreme Court decision on the powers of the military court.
“No trial will take place until the Supreme Court has decided on the Constitutional Court ruling that the GCM has no powers to try Besigye and the 22 suspects,†Asingura said, adding, “There is no plan to arrest Dr. Besigye.â€
He said the GCM had never issued criminal summons against Dr. Besigye and described as fiction, media reports that the GCM had done so.
“The GCM has never served Dr. Besigye with any summons. I have not seen them. If Besigye or his lawyers have a copy of the summons I would like see them,†Asingura said.
The army chief of legal services, Col. Ramadhan Kyamulesire, was present.
Others were Media centre chief Robert Kabushenga and army spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye. On Monday the New Vision quoted Kulayigye as saying the GCM had summoned Besigye to appear in court on March 15, following the reinstatement of his name on the charge sheet.
However, Kulayigye yesterday declined to comment on the issue, saying he was not a legal man. He referred the matter to Asingura, whom he said was in a position to answer queries.
THE General Court Martial (GCM) has put on hold the trial of Col. Kizza Besigye, the FDC president, who is facing charges of terrorism.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Kampala, UPDF deputy chief of legal services Maj. Kagoro Asingura said the trial of Besigye and 22 others had been stayed pending a Supreme Court decision on the powers of the military court.
“No trial will take place until the Supreme Court has decided on the Constitutional Court ruling that the GCM has no powers to try Besigye and the 22 suspects,†Asingura said, adding, “There is no plan to arrest Dr. Besigye.â€
He said the GCM had never issued criminal summons against Dr. Besigye and described as fiction, media reports that the GCM had done so.
“The GCM has never served Dr. Besigye with any summons. I have not seen them. If Besigye or his lawyers have a copy of the summons I would like see them,†Asingura said.
The army chief of legal services, Col. Ramadhan Kyamulesire, was present.
Others were Media centre chief Robert Kabushenga and army spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye. On Monday the New Vision quoted Kulayigye as saying the GCM had summoned Besigye to appear in court on March 15, following the reinstatement of his name on the charge sheet.
However, Kulayigye yesterday declined to comment on the issue, saying he was not a legal man. He referred the matter to Asingura, whom he said was in a position to answer queries.