American national remanded over illegal possession of firearms

ENTEBBE.

The chief magistrate’s court in Entebbe has remanded Mr Paul Rodgers Mathias, a 57 year old Americannational to Kigo Government Prisons on four various counts.

Mr Paul Rodgers a born of Rhode Island –Florida Woonsocket Massachusetts and state resident of Mawanyi, Bwebajja Kajjansi Town council Wakiso district was remanded on one count of Possession of a firearm without license, two counts of possession of ammunition without a certificate and one count of domestic violence.

Court presided over by Her Worship Mary Kaitesi that is hearing three of the charges was told that on March 18 2017, Paul Rodgers at Entebbe International Airport had in his possession a fire arm, a pistol Colt Number PL42191 and 128 live rounds of ammunition in both cases without a valid certificate which is contrary to section 3 (1) and (2) (a) of the fire arms Act cap 299 as amended by Act no 23 of 2006.

On the third charge, court was told that on February 9 2017 at Bwebajja village Wakiso district Paul Rodgers had in his possession 37 live rounds of ammunition without a valid certificate contrary to the same ACT.

Mr Paul Rodgers pleaded not guilty to all the three charges that were read to him.

Her Worship Mary Kaitesi remanded Mr Paul until 26 February when he returns to court for bail application and hearing of the case.

This comes after state prosecution led by counsel Macbeth Agumenaitwe said inquiries into the case were complete and were ready to proceed with hearing.

Meanwhile, Grade I Court presided over by Her Worship Mastullah Mulondo  that is hearing the fourth case of domestic violence was told that on January 13 this year, at around 4 pm at Bwebajja Kajjansi Town Council Wakiso district contrary to section 4 (II) of the domestic Act 2010, physically assaulted his wife Ms Lillian Kaitesi causing her bodily pain and danger which impairs the growth and development of Ms Kaitesi.

Mr Paul Rodgers pleaded not guilty to the domestic violence charge.

State prosecutor Mr Julius Baganzi said inquiries into the matter are complete and sought for a hearing date in a period of two weeks.

Mr Ladislaus Rwakafunzi the defence lawyer for the accused asked court to allow Mr Paul who has been in police detention since his recent arrest to get in touch with his sureties as stipulated by law as they sought for a shorter remand period for hearing and bail application.

However, Mastullah Mulondo remanded Mr Paul Rodgers to March 2 as the nearest hearing date and bail application, noting that the court's diary was full with many cases with March 2 being the nearest available date for the hearing.