The General Court Martial has released 17 of the 35 National Unity Platform (NUP) who have been on remand since December last year when they were arrested from Kalangala island during the presidential campaigns. 18 others have been further remanded until June 8.
Major Samuel Masereje one of the Lawyers Prosecuting the case in which 35 jailed National Unity Platform supporters accused of unlawful possession of ammunition before the General Court Martial in Makindye, says that the military still objects to the release on bail of 18 of the 35 suspects but do not have any objection to the grant of bail to 17 others.
Masereje informed the seven Member Court chaired by Lt. General Andrew Gutti that they are still in the process of scrutinizing the 18 suspects that include Buken Ali aka Nubian Li and Ssebuufu Edward aka Eddie Mutwe. He added that they will file reasons for their objection by 8th June 2021 when they return to Court.
The 17, including four who are sick, have been allowed to go home on condition that they do not go beyond Kampala and Wakiso without permission from Court, sign a non-cash bond of UGX 20 Million and report to court twice a month.
Lt. Gen Gutti then sent back the 18suspects on remand until 8th June 2021.
NUP Lawyers and Sureties have expressed dismay over the continued delay by the State to release all the suspects in one lot. The NUP Secretary-General, David Rubongoya told Journalists that they have Petitioned the Constitutional Court to challenge the trial of their supporters in the Army Court.
Military prosecutors led by captain Ambrose Guma said that they didn’t have any objection to bail application of the accused persons. He, however, hastened to add that they are finalizing the scrutinizing of the affidavits for the remaining 18 suspects.
These include Ali Bukeni aka Nubian Li, Edward Ssebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, Hassan Ssemakula alias Abdul Souldier, Kenny Kyalimpa, Lukeman Mwijukye alias Kampala, Ibrahim Tamale, Muzafuru Mwanje alias Main Gate alias Muwa, Achileo Kivumbi, Joseph Onzima alias Tawa, Anthony Agaba alias Bobi Young, Robert Kivumbi alias Mighty Family and Brian Ssemanda alias Dictator Museveni Must Go. The others are Geoffrey Mutalya, Richard Kalema alias Ricardo, Alex Karamagi alias Doggy City, Daniel Onywerot alias Dan Magic, Isma Muganga alias Jaja Isma and Baker Kalyango.
Guma prayed for a short adjournment to enable them file a response to the bail application of the eighteen suspects. While releasing the 17 suspects, Lt. Gen. Gutti ordered them not to go beyond Kampala and Wakiso districts without permission from court. He also directed them to report to court twice a month every after fourteen days on Wednesday, each of their sureties were bonded at Shs 50 million (non-cash). Gutti warned that the breach of any of the bail terms will lead to the automatic cancellation of bail.
The sureties included top NUP party leaders such as Aisha Kabanda, the deputy secretary-general, Flavia Kalule Nabagabe, the head of the Women’s League, Mathias Mpuuga, the NUP vice president in charge of Buganda region, David Lewis Rubongoya, the secretary-general, Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, the head of Mobilization and Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro the head of training and patriotism.
The suspects are part of the more than 100 NUP supporters arrested upon arrival in Kalangala district on December 30, 2020, during the campaign trail of former NUP presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. They were first arraigned before Masaka Magistrate’s court on January 4, 2021, where they were charged with inciting violence and granted bail.
However, the accused didn’t leave prisons after the Uganda Prison Services indicated that they had received a production warrant to present them before the Makindye based General Court Martial.
(URN)
