Two teachers face Court Martial for allegedly possessing a firearm

COURT MARTIAL|CRIME|FIREARMS ACT

Two teachers including a retailer have been charged and remanded to Kitalya Prisons for allegedly being in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Abdu Dudu, 53, a teacher at Abud Karim Bwaise, Kawempe and a resident of Kakungulu in Kawempe division, Kampala district was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Dudu was charged alongside his co-accused, Muhammed Abdullahi Kalangwa, 40, also a teacher aboding at Kanyanya parish, Nabweru Sub County in Kampala and Shaban Ali, 68, a retailer at Lodonga Market and a resident of Abuku Sub County in Koboko district.

The trio appeared before the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye chaired by Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti, and denied the charge.

The charges contravene section 3 (1) and 2 (a) of the Firearms act, Cap 299, and the accused will be liable to one year imprisonment, upon conviction.

Upon denying the charge, the prosecution led by Maj Samuel Masereje and Capt Ambrose Baguma entreated the court to adjourn the case to allow them complete investigations.

"My Lord Chairman and honorable members of this court, we seek a short adjournment to enable us complete the ongoing investigations," Baguma submitted.

The defense counsel, Maj Silas Kamanda Mutungi did not object to the state submission, prompting court to adjourn the case.

"Since the defence raises no objection, this court orders the accused to be remanded to Kitalya government Prison until August 24, 2020," Gutti ruled as he adjourned the case.

Prosecution asserts that on or around July 11, 2020 while at Customs check point in Pakwach, Dudu, Kalangwa, Ali and others still at large were found in unlawful possession of a firearm to wit; AK47, number 1618525.

That during the same place and time, the accused were also found with ten rounds of live ammunition of AK47, the said ammunition being ordinarily a monopoly of the Defence Forces.