Besigye aides case: Drama as complainant is ‘unmasked’
L-R: Francis Mwijuka, Sam Mugumya and Robert Kisekwa appear before the Kasese Grade One magistrate of Tuesday. PHOTO by Thembo Kahungu
What you need to know:
Lied? The witness had ealier identified himself as a hawker from Makerere-Kikoni in Kampala.
Kasese.
The trial of three aides of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Kizza Besigye yesterday took a new twist as it emerged that a primary state witness is a police officer.
While testifying against the three accused persons last year, the witness, Mr Ismail Muyingo identified himself as a hawker from Makerere-Kikoni in Kampala.
But drama ensued when he was recalled for cross examination by the accused persons through their lawyer, Mr Geoffrey Sibendire, when photographs were produced in court showing the witness dressed in Police uniform.
He is a state witness in the case of simple robbery against the trio; Mr Francis Mwijukye, Sam Mugumya and Robert Kisekwa. They, however, deny the charges.
Prosecution alleges that the group committed the offence on August 4, 2012 at Maliba Trading Centre in Kasese District during campaigns for the Woman Member of Parliament by-elections.
However, Mr Muyingo, who kept silent when the lawyer (Sibendire) presented the photographs for him to identify himself among the other officers in the photograph, later denied ever working with police.
Asked if he has ever worked as a police officer before the time when the offence was allegedly committed against him, Mr Muyingo testified that he only worked as an informer to a police officer called Kyambade.
Court, however, declined to accept the six photos adduced by the defense as evidence that Mr Muyingo is not a hawker as he claims but a police officer. Meanwhile, court has set March 26 for further hearing of the case. Court also summoned medical personnel who examined the complainant.
