KAMPALA – Uganda Prisons authorities on Friday August 7 released former Boda Boda 2010 patron Abdallah Kitatta from Luzira maximum state penitentiary after serving a reduced sentence.
Kitatta who was arrested alongside his body guard, Sowali Ngobi, were jailed for 10 years after the General Court Martial found them guilty of possessing firearms and ammunitions but the Court Martial Appeal Court (CMAC) on Friday reduced the duo’s sentence to three years, saying the ten years imposed on them was harsh, excessive and amount to miscarriage Justice.
“We set aside the maximum sentence of ten years imposed on each of the appellant and find a three years’ imprisonment appropriate,” Elly Turyamubona the chairman of the Court Martial Appeal Court ruled.
Turyamubona added that the reduction of the sentence took into consideration the time spent on remand and that spent serving the sentence— noting that there was no evidence that Kitatta endangered somebody’s life by mere possession of firearms.
“We therefore order that the golden coated pistol and 55 rounds of live ammunitions be forfeited or returned to the state,” Turyamubona ordered.
Frank Baine, Prisons Spokesperson, confirmed Kitatta’s release from jail, saying the Court ruling meant that the duo were to leave Prison on July 7.
“Kitatta and his body guard have been set free after today’s (Friday August 7, 2020) court ruling that reduced their earlier jail term,” Baine said.
He added that calculations were made, they realised that the later had completed their jail term.
