Court orders IGP to rearrest Gen Kyaligonza
Gen Matayo Kyaligonza
Mukono- Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth-Ochola has for the second time in about a month been directed by Mukono Chief Magistrates Court to arrest Gen Matayo Kyaligonza for refusing to show up in court to answer charges of assault against a traffic police officer.
The first was on June 10, which directive has never been complied with.
Presiding Chief Magistrate Juliet Hatanga on Monday, again directed the IGP to arrest Gen Kyaligonza not later than July 22 and compel him to appear in court to answer the criminal charges against him.
Before the court renewed the arrest warrant against Gen Kyaligonza, his lawyers unsuccessfully argued that it was unnecessary since there is a pending application in the High Court seeking stay of the trial against him.
Magistrate Hatanga said a mere application in the High Court to stay the proceedings cannot halt the proceedings in the lower court especially when there is no order yet.
Gen Kyaligonza’s lawyers had also argued that their clients have been charged in the army court and therefore the current proceedings on the same charges in the magistrate’s court should cease because it would amount to double prosecution.
Gen Kyaligonza, who is Uganda’s ambassador to Burundi, is jointly charged with his two aides Cple Peter Bushenbich and Pte John Robert Okurut.
Event. It is alleged on February 24 at Seeta Trading Centre in Mukono District, Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza and his aides assaulted Sgt Esther Namaganda, inflicting bodily harm on her.
It’s alleged they assaulted the traffic officer after she stopped his convoy from making a U-turn. His bodyguards are facing three charges of common assault, obstructing a police officer and assault causing bodily harm.
