Kitatta's bail ruling for May 7

PIC: Abdallah Kitatta. (File photo)

COURT | CRIME

KAMPALA - The General Court Martial  will on May 7 decide whether to release Bodaboda 2010 patron Abdallah Kitatta on bail or not.

Kitatta, together with 12 others are battling six counts, including unlawful possession of firearms, live ammunitions, military head gears and uniforms.

The military equipment includes two pistols, SMG rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition for firearms. The court is being presided over by Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti.

Besides Kittata, the other suspects are Sowali Ngobi, Amon Twinomujuni, Joel Kibirige, Matia Ssenfuka, Hassan Sebatta, Jonathan Kayondo and Hassan Ssegoba. Others are Sunday Ssemwogerere, John Sebandeke, Hussein Mugema, Fred Bwanika and Ibrahim Ssekajja.

Kitatta, 39, pleaded with court to release him on bail, citing ill-health. He said he suffers from a terrible health problem, which cannot be adequately catered for while on remand at Makindye military police headquarters.

A medical report from Upper Prison Luzira Health Centre III presented to court indicates that Kitatta is a known diabetic mellitus patient since 2013 and was also diagonised with hypertension.

The report further recommends that Kitatta undertakes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan and lipid profile, which is not possible within the prison medical services. The report was signed by Joshua Oluka, the principal medical clinical officer.

"The accused has shown exceptional circumstances like grave illness, which warrants him to be released on bail by court," Kitatta's lawyer, Shaban Sanywa, submitted.

Meanwhile, Lt. Ambrose Baguma asked court not to release Kitatta on bail, stating that he is most likely to interfere with investigations and influence witnesses.

"The applicant is a prominent and influential person in the society, since he is the NRM chairman of Rubaga division, national union of drivers, cyclists and allied workers," he noted.

Baguma said the charges of unlawful possession of military stores preferred against Kitatta is of a capital nature, which may require proof of exceptional circumstances, before court considers whether to grant him bail or not.

He said the substantiality of some sureties presented in court is questionable such as Kitatta's his father, Hajji Muhamudau Nakugoba, who earlier stated that he does not know his (Kitatta's) age.