Witness pins suspects on Kabamba
Lance Corporal Norman Sembatya (Right) identifies the suspects while testifying before the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala, yesterday. PHOTO BY JALIRA NAMYALO.
Kampala- Fourteen people who are on remand over the botched attack on Kabamba army barracks in Mubende District held meetings to recruit personnel to overthrow government, a prosecution witness has testified.
Lance Corporal Norman Sembatya told the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala, yesterday that the suspects had planned to recruit 150 people to attack the barracks and get arms to be used in overthrowing government.
“I attended meetings where each of the accused persons attended, among others, and agreed to each recruit 10 people,” said Cpl Sembatya, who identified the suspects whom he said he met in various places both in Nairobi, Kenya and in Kampala.
He also tendered in equipment recovered from the suspects, which included knives, spears, water, poison, medicine, army uniform and a recording of proceedings of the meetings, a car and mobile telephones.
CPl Sembatya, who joined the group on an undercover mission, testified that he recorded proceedings of the meeting held at Matugga, Wakiso District, in which the accused persons agreed to recruit people each to get machine guns from Kabamba barracks.
The suspects; Capt Hillman Bosco Aleper, formerly of the Armoured Warfare Training School in Mubende, Lt Col Philip Frank Eguma, Lt Ronald Waibi Mwavu, a junior officer formerly from the 4th Division, Pte Kenneth Sekajja, formerly of Air Defence in Nakasongola District, and Sgt Ndugga Musaazi Nama appeared before the army court chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti.
Civilians involved
Others are Ali Mukiibi, a retired air force pilot and resident of Jokolera in Wakiso District, Salongo Lumala (businessman), Herbert Biyimbwa (herbalist), Francis Kaheru Kiwanuka (businessman), Solomon Matovu (businessman), Peter Kibirige (electrician), Marvin Kato Ssemogerere (a mechanic) and Patrick Kibuuka (casual worker).
The group is facing a charge of offences relating to security which attract a maximum penalty of death on conviction.
Gen Gutti further remanded them until August 22 for cross examination of the witness.
