Lt Gen Gutti retained as General Court Martial chairman

Lt General Andrew Gutti has been re-appointed as the chairperson of the General Court Martial for the fourth time.

His term of office had expired on June 9, 2019.

UPDF Spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire said on Saturday that Gen Gutti had secured a new term of office together with 17 members of the court. The 17 include ten officers of the court and seven reserve members.

The officers of the court include; Maj Gen Joseph Arocha, Col Richard Tukacungurwa, the judge advocate, Lt Col Medard Bagambe, Lt Col Raphael Mugisha- the lead prosecutor, Maj John Bizimana-the Secretary, Maj Kamanda Silas Mutungi- the defence counsel, Capt Wilfred Karugwara, Lt Faridah Amooti Kiiza and  Warrant Officer I, Chrysostom John Kisembo.

The appointed reserve officers include Brig George Etyang, Lt Col Henry Nevatone, Lt Col Sadler Katono, Lt Col Lydia Nandundu, Lt Henry Bunalema, Lt Fatuma Njutti and Warrant Officer Paul Katende. 

A communiqué from President Yoweri Museveni, the UPDF commander-in-chief, indicates that whenever desired, Maj Samuel Maserejje and Capt AB Katushabe, could work as prosecutors at the General Court Martial.

Maj Maserejje was one of the prosecutors in the last term of the court but has since been dropped, alongside Capt Ambrose Baguma, Col James Rubahika, Lt Col Henry Serugo, and Lt Col Frank Tumwesigye. 

Also dropped is Maj Sarah Navuga, Maj DM Karyabashisha, Maj Bagutanya Kakooza, Capt Teopista Grama Opar and Capt Paul Mugerwa.

The newly-appointed members have to deal with a backlog of 350 cases.

In the last term of office, only 78 cases were concluded, according to Maj Bizimana, the Registrar of the General Court Martial.   

The General Court Martial is established under the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Act, 2005.