Former Police Chief Gen. Kale Kayihura has pleaded innocent to charges on three counts read to him by the General Court Martial Chairman Lt. Gen Andrew Guuti on Friday morning.
Kayihura had been in military detention for close to three months since he was arrested from his farm in Kashagama, Lyantonde District.
As court was packed to brim, Kayihura arrived at 11am clad in a military fatigue and immediately entered a dock to hear his case.
Gen Guuti then read Kayihura’s charge sheet which contained three counts;
Failure to protect war materials; Kayihura under this charge, he is accused of arming civilians in a period between 2010 and 2018. Among the civilians Kayihura allegedly armed include Abdulllah Kitata, the patron of Boda Boda 2010.
The second count is failure to protect and supervise war materials while as Inspector General of Police. Kayihura is further accused of failing to account for the guns he gave out to police units which include flying squad, crime preventers and others.
The thirds count is aiding and abetting kidnap from Uganda. Gen Guuti read that in a period between 2012 and 2016, Kayihura by omission and commission supervised subordinate police officers who kidnapped and repatriated Rwandan refugees who include Joel Mutabazi Jackson Karemera and others.
Lt. Joel Mutabazi is a former body guard of Rwandan President Paul Kagame who in 2010 fled the country citing persecution and sought asylum in Uganda under refuge protection Unit.
However, authorities in Uganda and across the world were shocked to learn that Mutabazi had been repatriated and was sentenced to life imprisonment by his home government.
Kayihura denied all the charges.
His lead counsel Peter Kabatsi told court that his client had endured the discomfort, indignity and suffering while in military detention beyond the 48 hours as required by the constitution for a suspect to be produced in courts of law.
Mr Kabasti told court that his client has allowed his ‘oppressors’ to peddle falsehoods but is optimistic the truth will come to light.
He asked court to allow Kayihura secure bail to which Court Martial chairman said the request must be put in writing.
Gen. Guuti adjourned court to August 28 for hearing of bail application and September 4 for hearing of the main case.
He was sent back to Makindye military facility.
