Bubulo West MP, seven soldiers charged with treason, remanded

Rebel activities. Tony Kipoi is accused of holding meetings with groups suspected to be rebels in a bid to attack the government.

The Bubulo West MP, Tony Kipoi Nsubuga, and seven soldiers, have been charged with treason by the Buganda Road Magistrate Court and remanded to Luzira Prison. Mr Kipoi and the other suspects were not allowed to take plea because the court does not have powers to handle the case. Court remanded them until January 15.
MP Kipoi was arrested by security agencies for allegedly holding a meeting with Democratic Republic of Congo rebels and UPDF soldiers in a guest house in Kabarole District last month.

Prosecution alleges that MP Kipoi, who has a security background, was recruiting rebels in the country.
It is alleged that the legislator has been recruiting personnel from Ugandan security as well as Congolese rebels belonging to COGAI, a rebel group based in Bunia in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Prosecution also claims that Mr Kipoi had promised to support the rebel groups with fire arms. It is also alleged that the Bubulo West MP has foreign sponsors , but they are yet to be named. Police are also investigating Mr Kipoi on allegations of trafficking narcotic drugs.

His personal assistant was arrested in Busia on the Uganda-Kenya border with narcotic drugs , to which he pleaded guilty and was fined Shs1 million. Mr Kipoi paid the money. Recently, the army said the Allied Democratic Front rebels led by Jamil Mukulu, who is now on the wanted list of Interpol on terror charges, were mobilising in eastern DRC to carry out attacks on Uganda.

Police said they were still hunting for more suspects in relation to the said subversive activities.

Nebanda death
Meanwhile, Makindye Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant of arrest for former Butaleja District Woman Member of Parliament’s boyfriend Adam Suleiman Kalungi as it remanded five of his suspected collaborators.
The court issued the warrant on Monday and the police will submit it to the International Police seeking for Red Notice to apprehend him.

Court remanded Abid Rashied Butt alias Iqbal, Fatima Babu, Khan Babu, Noor Abubaker, and Ali Omar Almuzahim until January 15 after pleading not guilty to the charges slapped against them.

Police charged the five suspects and Kalungi with unlawful possession of narcotic drugs contrary to Sections 47 and 60 (i); and supplying classified drugs contrary to Section 13 (60) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act.

Kalungi is linked to the trade of narcotic drugs that were allegedly consumed by MP Nebanda that led to her death.

abagala@ug.nationmedia.com