Jailed gold dealer applies for release on bail

A jailed businessman has asked for release on bail pending trial over accusations of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Through his lawyers, Mr Sam Buchanan who is on remand at Kigo Prison cited ill-heath and his constitutional right for bail because he is innocent.
He applied for bail before the General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti.
Mr Buchanan also asked the court to consider that that he has a fixed place of abode and is the sole bread winner of a family of 32 children, among other duties which require him to be available physically.
However, prosecution led by Lt. Col. Raphael Mugisha asked for more time to prepare and respond to Mr Buchanan’s arguments.
Gen. Gutti gave them up to October 1 this year to respond and allow court make its decision.
While Mr Buchanan is being investigated over charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and bullets before the army court, he was arrested on allegations of defrauding a businessman, a non-Ugandan, of $500,000 (about1.8b). Last month, security operatives attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) arrested Mr Buchanan and two other persons over allegations of conning foreigners in gold deals. However the charge sheet only mentions the accusation of unlawful possession of a pistol, which is a monopoly of the defence forces. The charge sheet also states that at the time of arrest, Mr Buchanan was found in possession of 18 live bullets.