Army court sets hearing date for MP’s treason case
Kampala.
The military court will on August 23 hear the application in which four people, including a Member of Parliament, are challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try them in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow government.
The suspects; Nakawa MP Michael Kabaziguruka, Mr Fredrick Namara, Musa Lutwama and Mr Ferdinand Obulejo, an assistant inspector of police working with the Counter Terrorism Unit at the police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, declined to take plea before the court, arguing that they are not soldiers.
The Makindye-based General Court Martial chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti yesterday directed defence lawyer Patra Asha to make written submissions to support their petition against challenging the army court’s power to try them before August 23.
Maj Asha told court that she needed more time to prepare the application for court to proceed with the hearing.
The four are part of the 24 who are on remand on allegations of treachery and offences relating to security, which attract a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
Prosecution led by Maj Raphael Mugisha told court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing. He asked for one month to enable them complete the inquiries.
Charges
Prosecution alleges that between May and June, the group and others still at large in diverse places in Wakiso, Luweero and Kampala districts committed acts of treachery to wit infiltrated the defence forces and engaged themselves in war-like activities against government.
It is also alleged that the group with intent to prejudice the security of the defence forces or forces cooperating with the defence forces did contrive a plot to overthrow the government by force.
