KAMPALA – After 18 months of hearing the case in which jailed Boda-boda 2010 patron Hajji Abdullah Kitatta is facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms and military stores, the General Court Martial is to decide his fate in this.
Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti the Court’s Chairman is set to decide on whether to release Kitatta and others or not.
Col. Richard Tukachungura, the court’s legal counsel advised the members of the court to put in mind the relevant sections of the Firearms and Ammunitions Act before determining on whether Kitatta and the group are guilty or not.
He told the seven-member court to draw the attention on section 43 of the Firearms Act Cap 99 exception from the Operational Act that any member of the police force or prison in respect of any firearm the property of government issued to him or her for the performance in her duties as such cannot be found guilty.
Mr. Kitatta is charged with nine others who include; Joel Kibirige, Matia Ssenfuka, Hassan Ssebatta, John Ssebandeke, Hussein Mugema, Fred Bwanika, Amon Twinomujuni, Sowali Ngobi and Ibrahim Ssekajja.
The army prosecution states that on January 21 at Vine Hotel in Wakaliga, Nateete in Rubaga Division of Kampala District, Mr Kitatta and his co-accused were found in possession of two sub-machine guns, three pistols, bullets and military uniforms without a valid firearms licence and which items are a monopoly of the defence forces.
The suspects were arraigned before the military court under Section 119 of the UPDF Act, which provides for prosecution of a person under military law.
