Drug trafficker not diplomat, High Commission clarifies
THE man who was held in Kenya over drug trafficking was on Tuesday forced to take a plea after court received confirmation that he was not a diplomat.
By Rauben Olita
THE man who was held in Kenya over drug trafficking was on Tuesday forced to take a plea after court received confirmation that he was not a diplomat.
The Uganda High Commission disowned john Mugisha, who is facing a Ksh84m cocaine haul charge, jointly with Anne Birungi Bisaso, also known as Gillian Kiconco.
Last Friday, the commission asked the Kenyan court for more time to assess Mugisha’s status after he refused to take a plea, claiming to be a diplomat.
The Kibera principal magistrate, Grace Nzioka, ordered Mugisha to take plea when the prosecutor, Francis Ndiema, informed the court that he was not a diplomat.
Ndiema produced a letter disowning Mugisha and indicating that he had obtained the documents he was using through fraudulent means.
Mugisha was last Monday arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in connection with trafficking cocaine worth sh2b.
He produced a diplomatic passport and a staff identity card before court, saying he was an employee of the President’s office.
The Foreign affairs permanent secretary, James Mugume, said the Government was investigating the circumstances under which Mugisha got a diplomatic passport.
Mugisha pleaded not guilty and the case was referred to the chief magistrate’s court for bail application.
In another court, Justice Kidula, who is handling Bisaso’s case, adjourned the ruling on her bond application to June 21.
However, the prosecution, led by chief inspector Joseph Musyoka, urged the court not to release her, saying she was likely to jump bail.
Musyoka also told court that the accused was wanted by the Ugandan Police.
Bisaso was allegedly found carrying 10 bags of cocaine, packed in two plastic boxes bearing UN logos. they weighed 21 kilogrammes.
THE man who was held in Kenya over drug trafficking was on Tuesday forced to take a plea after court received confirmation that he was not a diplomat.
The Uganda High Commission disowned john Mugisha, who is facing a Ksh84m cocaine haul charge, jointly with Anne Birungi Bisaso, also known as Gillian Kiconco.
Last Friday, the commission asked the Kenyan court for more time to assess Mugisha’s status after he refused to take a plea, claiming to be a diplomat.
The Kibera principal magistrate, Grace Nzioka, ordered Mugisha to take plea when the prosecutor, Francis Ndiema, informed the court that he was not a diplomat.
Ndiema produced a letter disowning Mugisha and indicating that he had obtained the documents he was using through fraudulent means.
Mugisha was last Monday arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in connection with trafficking cocaine worth sh2b.
He produced a diplomatic passport and a staff identity card before court, saying he was an employee of the President’s office.
The Foreign affairs permanent secretary, James Mugume, said the Government was investigating the circumstances under which Mugisha got a diplomatic passport.
Mugisha pleaded not guilty and the case was referred to the chief magistrate’s court for bail application.
In another court, Justice Kidula, who is handling Bisaso’s case, adjourned the ruling on her bond application to June 21.
However, the prosecution, led by chief inspector Joseph Musyoka, urged the court not to release her, saying she was likely to jump bail.
Musyoka also told court that the accused was wanted by the Ugandan Police.
Bisaso was allegedly found carrying 10 bags of cocaine, packed in two plastic boxes bearing UN logos. they weighed 21 kilogrammes.