Kitatta, Co-accused Denied Bail, Referred to General Court Martial

The Unit Disciplinary Court (UDC) of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) has reffered Boda Boda 2010 leader, Abdallah Kitatta and 12 other murder suspects to the Military General Court Martial for further hearing of their case.

On Friday, Kitatta appeared before the UDC at Mbuya army barracks together with 12 other suspects including Kitatta’s police bodyguard, Sowali Ngobi.

Friday’s proceedings were in closed door as the journalists were blocked by soldiers from accessing the court. However, family members of the accused attended.

SoftPower News has learnt from credible military sources that UDC referred the suspects to the general court martial due to lack of jurisdiction to try capital offences.

The 13 suspects face charges of unlawful possession of military stores and failure to protect war materials. The army said recently that the suspects were found with two pistols and a submachine gun.

In Friday’s session chaired by Col Tom Kabuye, Joseph Kiryowa the lawyer to one of the accused tried to secure bail for the suspects, however court turned down the request.

According to the UPDF Deputy Spokesman, Col Akiiki Deo, Col Kabuye subsequently remanded Kitatta and the 12 other suspects back to the government prison in Kigo.

The military accused the suspects of killing former Case Hospital accountant, Francis Ekalungar who was kidnapped, brutally killed and his body burnt beyond recognition last month.

The other suspects are; Sowali Ngobi (Kitatta’s police bodyguard), Amon Twinomujuni, Joel Kibirige, Matia Ssenfuka, Hassan Ssebata, Johnson Kayondo, Hassan Ssengoba, Sunday Ssemogerere, John Ssebandeke, Hussein Mugema, Fred Bwanika and Ibrahim Ssekaja.