Kitatta, 9 Co-accused Have Case to Answer – Court Martial

The General Court Martial in Makindye has Monday ruled that the patron of Boda Boda 2010 Association, Abudallah Kitatta and 9 others have a case to answer.

The General Court Martial chaired by Lt Gen Gutti on Monday informed them that several witnesses had testified to the effect that they had a case to answer.

Kitatta and co-accused, charged with unlawful possession of firearms and military equipment, were therefore asked to prepare their defence.

Three of their co-accused were however acquitted; Sunday Ssemogerere, Jonathan Kayondo and Hassan Ssengoba.

Kitatta and some 13 other people were arrested in January by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) this year and charged by the Military for unlawful possession of military equipment. Three of the accused were later acquitted.

Kitatta and his co-accused are alleged to have been involved in the brutal killing of former Case Hospital accountant, Francis Ekalungar.

The UPDF said that 4 of the charges are criminal and attract a maximum sentence of death while one attracts life imprisonment.

According to the UPDF, 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.

They were also discovered to be in possession of 30 rounds of loose ammunition.

Section 119 and Section 119 (1) (h), (i) of the UPDF Act stipulate persons and circumstances under which one can be arraigned before a military court.