KAMPALA. The Makindye based General Court Martial (GCM) has heard that a group of boda-boda riders wanted to lynch a group of operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in a bid to stop them from arresting the murder suspects of former case clinic accountant.
Corporal Richard Wanyama, a CMI operative attached to the Directorate of Counter-terrorism who appeared before the GCM as the second witness also confirmed to court of having arrested seven out of the thirteen suspects including Boda Boda 2010 leader Abdallah Kitatta.
I was among a group of operatives that was deployed to go to Busega roundabout to arrest key suspects in the murder of former Case Clinic accountant Francis Ekalungar. However, after their arrest, a group of boda-boda riders stormed us, strafed stones at the CMI car demanding for the release of the suspects. They tried to hinder army officers from doing their work,” Cpl Wanyama told court.
Private Richard Kasaija attached to the CMI also told court that Kitatta was found in possession of a pistol with five bullets and military uniforms upon his arrest in Vine Tea hotel in Wakaligga.
Court also heard Kitatta’s co-accused were found with an SMG rifle with 20 bullets, machetes, iron bars, military uniforms and sticks which they held while planning to carry out a demonstration.
Lt Gen Andrew Gutti has further remanded the suspects until September 25 for further hearing of the case with other witnesses.
Prosecution states that on January 21 this year at Vine Tea Hotel at Wakaliga, Nateete in Rubaga Division Kampala District, Kitatta and the co-accused persons were found in possession of two guns SMG, three pistols and bullets without holding a valid firearms certificate and military uniforms which are a monopoly of the defence forces.
The suspects were arraigned before the military courts under section 119 of the UPDF Act that provides for persons subject to military law.
Section 119 (1) (h), (i) provides that any person found in unlawful possession of arms, ammunition or equipment ordinarily being the monopoly of the Defence Forces, becomes subject to military law.
