Court Martial Drops Besigye
FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye’s name has been dropped from the charge sheet on which the colonel was facing charges of terrorism and illegal possession of arms, with 22 others in the General Court Martial (GCM).
By Maurice Okore and Hillary Kiirya
FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye’s name has been dropped from the charge sheet on which the colonel was facing charges of terrorism and illegal possession of arms, with 22 others in the General Court Martial (GCM).
Besigye was not named among the other suspects who appeared yesterday before GCM chief Gen. Elly Tumwine for trial.
Besigye was accused of having links with the Peoples Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group. The Court Martial and the army would not comment over the development. Besigye’s lawyer Sam Njuba said the GCM was getting Besigye off the case because he is a high profile suspect.
“That is my interpretation of the whole thing but they should have released the others also because the ruling was in respect of civilians,†said Njuba.
The High Court recently ruled that the military court had no power to try the suspects over terror and illegal possession of arms. Although Besigye (left), a presidential candidate, was released on bail, his co-accused remained in detention. Tumwine is reported to have said the army court would go ahead with their trial. Yesterday, Njuba said he would ask the court to summon Tumwine to explain why he is still holding the suspects.
The men, one of them Besigye’s brother, Joseph Musasizi Kifefe, were yesterday remanded till March 1, when their case comes up for mention. They are scheduled to appear in the High Court on treason charges today.
Another lawyer in the case, Caleb Alaka, said, “The act of the GCM chairman in going ahead to try the other accused in total disregard of the Constitutional Court decision shows cowardice in him and he should be condemned by all human rights bodies internationally,†said Alaka.
The prosecutor said between 2001 and December 2004 in Yumbe, Nebbi, Arua, Kampala and Rukungiri, the accused unleashed terror on Ugandans and had unlawful arms.
Ends
FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye’s name has been dropped from the charge sheet on which the colonel was facing charges of terrorism and illegal possession of arms, with 22 others in the General Court Martial (GCM).
Besigye was not named among the other suspects who appeared yesterday before GCM chief Gen. Elly Tumwine for trial.
Besigye was accused of having links with the Peoples Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group. The Court Martial and the army would not comment over the development. Besigye’s lawyer Sam Njuba said the GCM was getting Besigye off the case because he is a high profile suspect.
“That is my interpretation of the whole thing but they should have released the others also because the ruling was in respect of civilians,†said Njuba.
The High Court recently ruled that the military court had no power to try the suspects over terror and illegal possession of arms. Although Besigye (left), a presidential candidate, was released on bail, his co-accused remained in detention. Tumwine is reported to have said the army court would go ahead with their trial. Yesterday, Njuba said he would ask the court to summon Tumwine to explain why he is still holding the suspects.
The men, one of them Besigye’s brother, Joseph Musasizi Kifefe, were yesterday remanded till March 1, when their case comes up for mention. They are scheduled to appear in the High Court on treason charges today.
Another lawyer in the case, Caleb Alaka, said, “The act of the GCM chairman in going ahead to try the other accused in total disregard of the Constitutional Court decision shows cowardice in him and he should be condemned by all human rights bodies internationally,†said Alaka.
The prosecutor said between 2001 and December 2004 in Yumbe, Nebbi, Arua, Kampala and Rukungiri, the accused unleashed terror on Ugandans and had unlawful arms.
Ends