Kabaziguruka Charge Sheet Amended

Makindye General Court Martial has amended the charge sheet on which Nakawa Municipality MP Hon Michael Kabaziguruka is accused of treachery with 24 other people.

Two suspects arrested recently have been added on the amended charge sheet presented Tuesday to court by State prosecutor Maj Raphael Mugisha.

This brings to 26 the number of the accused in the high profile case.

They are Warrant officer 1 Isaac Kasabwango, camp commander at Bombo barracks and Sgt Mawa Subai Musa, an armory official at the same highly guarded military facility.

The latest development underscores the role of junior armed officers in the alleged plot to topple President Museveni by use of arms in the wake of the contested 2016 elections.

Kabaziguruka Protest

In the meantime, Hon Kabaziguruka for the second time refused to take plea in the court saying that it has no legal mandate to try him.

“I challenged my trial before this court in the High Court which didn’t rule in my favor and I decided to appeal in the Court of Appeal where I am waiting for the hearing date of the appeal to be fixed,” Kabaziguruka submitted.

The Nakawa MP further requested court to provide him with typed proceedings and the court martial’s ruling overruling his application to enable him lodge another appeal in the Court Martial’s appellate court.

Court chairman Lt Gen Andrew Gutti today threatened to punish Hon Kabaziguruka for what he described as “contempt of court.”

“You’re warned on contempt of court. For contempt of court I will rule over it (Kabaziguruka’s requests),” warned Gutti.

Kabaziguruka is accused alongside AIP Ferdinand Obulejo (Counter Terrorism Unit official) and 21 UPDF soldiers of plotting to overthrow the government.

The other suspects included Cpt. Andrew Oja, Cpl. Geofrey Idru, Cpl. Richard Odama, Pte. Jacob Obua, Pte. Christopher Omony, Pte. Geofrey Amude, Pte. Shafick Masembe, Pte. Asuman Bilali and Cpl. Emmanuel Tibesigwa.

Others are Cpl. Justin Erweru, Pte. Ibrahim Angola, Pte. James Mataji, Pte. Lucy Acan, Pte. Billy Paul Oguti ,Pte.James Byamaka, Pte. Ambrose Owunyu, Pte. Benon Tugume, Fredrick Namara and Musa Lutwama.

The accused face offences relating to security and treachery contrary to sections 130 and 129 of the UPDF Act 2005.

Prosecution alleges the suspects with others still at large in various places including Wakiso, Kampala and Luweero acted to “prejudice security of the forces cooperation in order to plot to overthrow the government with force of fire arms.”

The suspects reportedly jeopardized security when they “infiltrated the defence forces and engaged in war-like activities between February and June 2016 against government.”

According to the prosecution, the UPDF soldiers were attached to various places including Nakasongola air defence base, counter intelligence Unit and the Makindye Military Police headquarters.

The case has been adjourned September 17 for mention.