Court has rejected Boda Boda 2010 leader Abdallah Kitata’s request to be transferred back to Luzira prison from Makindye Military Police Barracks where he says he doesn’t receive adequate medical care and access to his relatives.
General Court martial chaiman, Lt Gen Gutti informed Kitata’s lawyer Shaban Sanywa that his client was transferred to Military police barracks for security reasons and the decision cannot be revisited.
Lt Gen Gutti fixed April 23, 2018 as the day to commence trial of Kitata alongside 12 other suspects facing six counts including unlawful possession of firearms, live ammunitions, military head gears and uniforms .
Lead prosecutor Maj. Rapheal Mugisha informed the 7-member court chaired by Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti that the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence had concluded investigations into the matter and prosecution was ready to present witnesses.
Kitata on his part faces five separate charges of being in unlawful possession of an SMG gun, 3 pistols and 50 bullets which prosecution says are a monopoly of the UPDF.
The other suspects accused of conniving with Kitata to unlawfully possess millitary headgears and uniforms that were allegedly found on them on January 18, 2018 in a car at Vine Hotel in Wakaliga, Kampala.
The 12 accused have been sent back on remand at Luzira prison whereas Kitata has been remanded in Makindye Millitary police barracks until the date of commencement of trial.
Kitata and co-accused were first charged before the Military Disciplinary Unit at CMI headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala but were later committed to the General Court Martial which has jurisdiction to try such capital offenses punishable by death and life sentences respectively .
Kitata and co-accused first refused to take plea before the military court arguing that they are not soldiers and therefore cannot be charged in a military court. This prompted the court martial chairman Lt Gen Andrew Gutti on February 13 to remand the suspects to Luzira prison to allow defence lawyers more time to talk with their clients.
On February 27, the suspects, reappearing before the same court accepted to take plea.
Mr Sanywa, informed court then that his clients were willing to enter plea and be tried in the court.
Mr Sanywa even asked court to be availed with prosecution’s intended evidence and exhibits so that he can ably prepare his client’s defence.
