KAMPALA– After spending over 72 days in the military detention, Kale Kayihura, the former Inspector General of Police, on Friday been formally charged before the General Court Martial (GCM) with three charges which he has denied.
Kayihura who appeared before the GCM chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti was charged with two counts of failing to protect war materials and aiding or abetting kidnapping from Uganda.
The court was filed to capacity as friends, family members and those who believed in the jailed general awaited for his fate.
Prosecution alleges that Gen Kayihura between the year 2010 and 2018 on various occasions allowed the issue of arms and ammunitions to unauthorized persons to wit members of Boda Boda 2010 headed by one Abudalah Kitata.
It is further alleged that between the same years, he failed to supervise and ensure accountability for the arms and ammunitions issued to units referred to as specialized under the office of the IGP to wit the flying squad unit, the specialized Operations Unit, Witness Protection Unit and the Crime Intelligence Directorate of Uganda Police Force.
It is also alleged that Gen Kayihura between the year 2012 and 2016 by omission and commission aided and abetted the actions of subordinate police officers and others on various occasions without hindrance to kidnap and illegally repatriated Rwandan exiles refugees and Ugandan citizens to Rwanda to wit, Lt Joel Mutabazi, Jackson Karemera alias Ndiga, Sgt Innocent Kalisa.
However after reading the charges to him, prosecution led by Maj. Rapheal Mugisha told court that inquiries in the matter are still on-going and court for an adjournment up to September for mention.
Although this did not go well with Kayihura’s lawyers of Kampala Associates who asked court to have their client released after spending 72 days in the military barracks which they say is not in conformity with the Ugandan Laws.
“Our client was aware of his rights and what to do, he knows the legal protection of the laws to defeat this unlawful detention. We are praying to this court to exercise its discretion by granting him bail,” said Peter Kabatsi one of Kayihura’s lawyer.
However Gutti informed Kayihura’s lawyers to file a written formal bail application to court as per the procedure in the army court which will be considered on August 28.
