UPC's Odiya to face Court Martial

The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) deputy party mobiliser Dan Odiya is to face new charges of treason before the General Court Martial.

Following the withdrawal of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from his prosecution in the Gulu Magistrate's Court, Odiya is now to be charged with treason before the GCM.

At a press briefing at the Police headquarters in Nakawa, Andrew Felix Kaweesi said after the DPP withdrew from prosecuting Odiya, he was re-arrested on new charges.   

Odiya and two others, Kenneth Otto and Sam Ojok Obama were re-arrested by plain-clothed security operatives outside the Gulu Magistrate's Court on Friday, after the presiding magistrate, Paul Owino ordered that the trio be set free.

They are linked to the June attack on Gulu Central Police Station and Opit army detach in Omoro district last year. 

Odiya was accused of masterminding the attacks that claimed the lives of two people and loss of eight guns.

"It is normal to arrest a suspect on new charges" Kaweesi said.

The three were initially charged with treason, concealment of treason, murder and two counts of attempted murder, and subsequently remanded to Gulu Central Prison. 

However, the DPP, Mike Chibita, wrote to the Court on January 11 saying he was discontinuing charges against the accused, which prompted their release.

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has condemned Odiya's fresh arrest alongside his two co-accused.

In an interview with New Vision, outgoing UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda said the trio would face trial before the military court for their alleged offences.

According to Ankunda, Odiya faces charges related to treason, in violation of section 129 of the UPDF Act. He did not however disclose when Odiya was expected to appear before the court.

In a statement on Saturday, ULS president, Francis Gimara took exception at the manner in which the security operatives handled the arrest of the three.

Gimara said while Police has the powers to re-arrest suspects released by the court if they have other charges against them, it was unacceptable that these arrests are carried out in the premises of the court. This he said was a violation of the rights of the accused persons.

ULS wants the officers involved in the arrest to be held accountable for the "indiscretion" and the suspects to be accorded "unfettered" access to their lawyers and families. 

Gimara said ULS would meet the leadership of the Judiciary to discuss further the steps to ensure that rule of law is upheld at all times by the security organs.