Mbuya attack: lawyers ordered to file defence
Court martial chairman, Lt Gen Andrew Gutti
Kampala- The General Court Martial has directed defence lawyers in the botched Mbuya barracks attack to file their written submissions on behalf of their clients that will form a basis of court to rule at a later date on whether they have a case to answer or not.
The directive resulted from the request by the accused’s lawyer, Maj Asha Patra, who asked court for more time to enable him file written submissions.
The suspects in the case are Lt Augustine Moro and Pte Kenneth Kalokwera Okello.
The court martial, chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, gave the defence lawyers a green light to file the written submissions and serve the prosecution, which has to respond by August 22.
Lt Gen Gutti said after the prosecution has responded, it will then make its ruling.
Should court find that the suspects have a case to answer, they will be required to defend themselves and on the contrary, they will be let off the hook.
Lt Moro and Pte Okello are charged with offences relating to security, treachery and those relating to guard duties contrary to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Act in connection with the attack on Mbuya Military Barracks in March 2013.
However, the accused, who deny the charge, have been on remand since April 2013.
Prosecution led by Maj Raphael Mugisha alleges that on March 4 last year, the duo and others still at large, while at Lower Mbuya Military Barracks in Nakawa Division in Kampala, attacked the guards to get guns - an act that the State said was intended to prejudice the security of the defence forces.
