State slaps treason case on six suspects

Kampala/Kasese

After almost two weeks in custody, the government yesterday produced six people, some of whom were arrested in connection with the death of a renegade army colonel, in court where they were charged with treason.

The late afternoon appearance of the suspects before Magistrate Eleanor Khainza at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court pre-empted a second High Court order in which government was again directed to produce Dr Aggrey Byamaka, who is also being held on suspicion of treason, at noon today.

Ping-pong
Last Friday, High Court judge Elidadi Mwangustya ordered that Dr Byamaka, who has been kept incommunicado, be produced yesterday following an application filed by his lawyer Davis Ndyomugabe. The State, which is reportedly holding him in connection with suspected treasonable activities associated with the death of Col. Edison Muzoora, however, never produced him as had been ordered.

State Attorney Susan Odongo informed the court: “The Director of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence has filed a return this morning stating that the applicant is in the custody of the police. We have been trying to receive instructions from the IGP and the director –CID but they were engaged in a meeting.”

In court, was Dr Byamaka’s wife, Doreen, and Mr Ndyomugabe, who said after a long search at different detention facilities including CMI and another facility in Kololo, they located Dr Byamaka in Kireka where a special joint unit of the police, CMI and Internal Security Organisation runs a detention centre. “I found the applicant in Kireka and not in good health my Lord,” Mr Ndyomugabe reported, causing the judge to question why the State holds people without informing their relatives as to their whereabouts and condition.

Dr Byamaka, a pharmacist and businessman, was among five other people arrested in Mbarara following the death of Col. Muzoora. Col. Muzoora had been living in exile and was in 2003 accused of organising the People’s Redemption Army, a shadowy rebel group which the government said was headed by some opposition leaders. Like Dr Byamaka, the individuals produced in the magistrate’s court yesterday afternoon, were all arrested in various parts of western Uganda.

The suspects
They included former soldier Didas Atunga-Bantu alias Col. Bendera Iddi Kibwama; Boniface Mumbere Kinyambila alias Ivan Musinguzi, a development analyst in Kasese; Abel Kacwano Kazoora, a retired solider in Bushenyi; and Aggrey Byamukama alias Happiness Akasigazi, a pharmacist in Mbarara.

Others are Simon Matte Mwesige, a builder in Hima Town Council in Kasese and Esau Muhwezi alias Tugumisirize Rwafafa, a businessman in Kasese. They were not allowed to speak after Magistrate Khainza informed them: “The charges against you are capital and only triable by the High Court.” She set July 7 for their re-appearance.

Prosecution alleged that the suspects and others still at large, between October 2006 and May 2011 in Kampala, Bushenyi, Kasese, Wakiso, Mbarara and Ntungamo and other places planned to overthrow the government of Uganda by force of arms. It is alleged that they recruited, mobilised logistical support and gathered intelligence information for the Uganda Peoples’ Freedom Front and Forces of Constitutional Change in Uganda, hitherto unknown outfits.

Many other arrests have been made including the holding of Bushenyi FDC district chairman, William Mukaira in what the army called a swoop on collaborators of groups operating in the neighbouring DR Congo. But FDC secretary for defence and security Maj. (rtd) John Kazoora accused the government of targeting his party. “I think now the government is becoming paranoid and they want to silence the opposition using these arrests. We don’t know where this country is going. If they (detainees) have a case to answer they should be produced in court, not kangaroo courts,” he said.

Responding, Defence and Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye said: “I don’t think the party (FDC) has sat down and agreed to be involved in this. It’s some elements within FDC that are either involved in these treasonable activities or misprison of treason (not reporting treason).”

Reported by Emmanuel Mulondo, Ephraim Kasozi, Risdel Kasasira Felix Basiime & Jacinta Odongo