The Military Court Martial has charged 13 suspects arrested recently for the alleged murder of former Case Hospital accountant, and sent them to Kigo Prison on remand.
The 13 persons including Boda Boda 2010 and NRM Chairman for Rubaga Division, Abdullah were on Monday arraigned before the military court in Mbuya and charged with 5 offences which include failure to protect war material and unlawful possession of military stores.
In a statement released on Monday, the UPDF said that 4 of the charges are criminal and attract a maximum sentence of death while one attracts life imprisonment.
Those charged are; Kitatta Abdullah, Ngobi Sowali (Kitatta’s bodyguard), Twimomujuni Amon, Kibirige Joel, Ssenfuka Maria, Ssebate Hassan, Kayondo Johnson, Ssengoba Hassan, Ssebandeke John, Mugema Hussein, Ssemogerere Sunday, Bwanika Fred and Ssekaja Ibrahim.
Regarding why the 13 (majority civilians) were charged before a military court, the UPDF Deputy Spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki said that every person found in unlawful possession of arms, ammunitions or equipment ordinarily being the monopoly of the Defence Forces, becomes subject to military law.
He revealed that Kitatta and his co-accused were found in possession of two pistols (Serial No. UGPOL00753421813 and DEPOIDEAS2008) and a Submachine Gun (SMG) Serial No. UE4467/1998 all of which guns are a monopoly of the defence forces.
In addition, they were discovered to be in possession of 30 rounds of loose ammunition.
Akiiki quoted Section 119 and Section 119 (1) (h), (i) of the UPDF Act which stipulate persons and circumstances under which one can be arraigned before a military court.
“The above accused persons will therefore appear on the 9th of February 2018 for further mention of the charges against them,” the statement read.
Although the some of the charges the 13 are facing are of capital nature and are not triable by a Unit Disciplinary Court (UDC), Lt Col Akiiki stated that “the criminal procedure requires that a court without jurisdiction can only read the charges preferred and remand the accused, and that he or she is not allowed to enter any plea”.
Kitatta and the others were arrested a week ago in operations by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) fo their alleged involvement in the brutal killing of former Case Hospital accountant, Francis Ekalungar.