Rwandan soldier sent to jail for illegally possessing firearms

ARMY COURT|UPDF|CRIME|FIREARMS

KAMPALA - A 28-year-old Rwandan soldier has been charged and remanded to Kitalya Government Prison for allegedly possessing firearms.

Lt Ivan Manzi, was on Monday (September 21, 2020) arraigned before the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala and charged with unlawful possession of Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) stores.

 The GCM Chairman, Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti read him the charges, to which he denied having committed the same.

Upon denying the charges, the prosecution led by Maj Samuel Masereje informed the court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing, therefore entreating the court for an adjournment.

"My Lord Chairman, we seek for an adjournment to enable us complete the ongoing inquiries," Masereje submitted.

The defence led by Maj Kamanda Mutungi did not object to the prosecution request, propting court to adjourn the case to October 19, 2020 for mention.

"Following the state request for an adjournment and the defence raises no objection, this case is hereby adjourned to October 19 and the accused is remanded to Kitalya Prison," Gutti ruled.

Prosecution alleges that on September 2, 2020 at Nakulabye in Kampala district, Manzi was found in unlawful possession of a gun, black star pistol, number UG IDEA 101801417 of Israel made.

It is further alleged that during the same place and time, the accused had in possession five rounds of live ammunition being a monopoly of the Defence Forces.