Court Martial gets new chairman

By Pascal Kwesiga

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Brig. Fred Tolitas the new chairman of the General Court Martial to replace Brig. Charles Angina whose one-year tenure has expired.

Angina, who assumed office in May last year is expected to hand over to Tolit next week when he is expected to be sworn in.

Tolit who has currently been serving as the defense attaché at the UN headquarters in New York has worked in various capacities in the army.

Sources on Wednesday confirmed Tolit's appointment to head the military court, adding that he would start discharging his duties after the swearing ceremony scheduled to take place in a few days' time.

The military court has not sat for nearly a month since Angina's tenure expired last month. Angina who is also the army representative in Parliament had replaced Brig. Bernard Rwehuru after his one-year term had ended.

The President has the discretion to renew the term of the chairman when it expires or replace him with another officer. 

Tolit will take over a number of cases involving fraud, murder, robbery and misuse of fire arms among others.

Some of the prominent cases before court include fraud cases against a racket of UPDF officers accused of stealing pension and survival financial benefits of the families of the deceased soldiers, the alleged murder of Steven Kabuye by Lt. Col. John Kaye on suspicion that he had an affair with his wife and the killing of the Nile Breweries Charles Eturuket over his job.