Kitatta to take plea at army court today

Feb 13, 2018

The accused are battling charges of failure to protect war material and unlawful possession of military hardware.

PIC: Kitatta's relatives at the General Court Martial earlier on Tuesday. (Credit: Meddie Musisi)

COURT


KAMPALA - The patron of Bodaboda 2010, Abdallah Kitatta, and 12 others were expected to appear before the General Court Martial in Makindye on Tuesday to plead to the charges preferred against them.

The accused are battling charges of failure to protect war material and unlawful possession of military hardware.

Upon conviction, the offences attract a maximum sentence of death and life imprisonment, respectively.

The military equipment in question include two pistols and 30 rounds of ammunition for a submachine gun.

Kitatta's co-accused are Sowali Ngobi, Amon Twinomujuni, Joel Kibirige, Matia Ssenfuka, Hassan Sebatta, Johnson Kayondo, Hassan Sengooba, Sunday Ssemwogerere, John Ssebandeke, Hussein Mugema, Fred Bwanika and Ibrahim Ssekajja.

Last week, the Military Unit Disciplinary Committee, sitting at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) headquarters in Mbuya chaired by Col. Tom Kabuye, referred the matter to the GCM over lack of jurisdiction.

According to Kabuye, the unit has no powers to try the accused, who are currently battling capital offences.

The transfer of the case was prompted by the CMI headquarters prosecutor, Emmanuel Arihaihi, who informed court that investigations were incomplete and requested the matter be referred to the army court.

The arrest of Kittata followed a crackdown on suspects linked to the murder of Francis Ekalungar, an acountant of Case Hospital in Kampala. Most of the suspects are Bodaboda 2010 members.

Ekalungar was kidnapped on January 2 this year by unknown assailants on his way to Dfcu Bank to deposit over sh15m belonging to the hospital. A day later, his burnt body was found at Kajjansi, off Entebbe Road.

 

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