Jailed Former MP Kipoi trial fails
Former Bubulo West Member of Parliament, Tonny Kipoi Nsubuga
What you need to know:
- Charged with five other suspects over offences relating to security, which attract a maximum sentence of death upon conviction, Mr Kipoi was expected to appear before the army court for hearing of prosecution evidence but it emerged that judge advocate (court legal advisor) Col Gideon Katinda had gone for other duties.
- The former legislator was extradited last month from Botswana after a 2014 arrest warrant when he escaped through Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prosecutor Maj. Raphael Mugisha said that two witnesses had come to testify in the case but another date will be set.
The trial of jailed former Member of Parliament for Bubulo West, Mr Tonny Kipoi Nsubuga yesterday failed to proceed as the court session did not take place due to absence of senior court officials.
Mr Kipoi is on remand at Makindye Military Prison over accusations in regard to recruitment of people into rebel activities.
Charged with five other suspects over offences relating to security, which attract a maximum sentence of death upon conviction, Mr Kipoi was expected to appear before the army court for hearing of prosecution evidence but it emerged that judge advocate (court legal advisor) Col Gideon Katinda had gone for other duties.
Other suspects include five UPDF soldiers; Sgt Albino Okeng, Sgt Yunus Lemeriga, L/Cpl Adams Mawa and L/Cpl Rogers Mweru formerly attached to the Armoured Brigade headquarters in Masaka District as well as Private Saidi Dodola formerly attached to the elite Special Forces Command.
The former legislator was extradited last month from Botswana after a 2014 arrest warrant when he escaped through Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prosecutor Maj. Raphael Mugisha said that two witnesses had come to testify in the case but another date will be set.
Prosecution case
Prosecution alleges that between November 2012 and December 2013 in diverse places in Kampala, Wakiso, Masaka, Nakasongola, Fort Portal, Jinja and Ntoroko Districts, Mr Kipoi convened meetings to recruit soldiers with intent to prejudice the security of the defence forces.
Earlier warrant
In 2014, the army court ordered for the arrest of Mr Kipoi after his case file and his co-accused was shifted to the military court two months after the treason case was withdrawn from the civil court for lack of evidence.
In February 2014, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the government’s chief prosecutor, withdrew the treason charges against the accused.
The prosecution had alleged that last year, Mr Kipoi held a meeting with DR Congo rebels and UPDF soldiers in a guest house in Kabarole District in Uganda with the intention of arming them to overthrow the government of Uganda.
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