The General Court Martial in Makindye declined to grant bail for 32 National Unity Platform supporters charged with illegal possession of explosive devices.
Prosecution alleges that between November 2020 and May 2021 in areas of Jinja, Mbale, Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Natete and Kampala Central,the accused were found in illegal possession of 13 pieces of explosive devices which are “ordinarily the monopoly of the defense forces”.
They were arrested for carrying out petrol bomb attacks on government vehicles and buildings in various places in the country. They were arrested for plotting attacks on Kasubi Royal Tombs,at the former Jinja Resident City Commissioner Eric Sakwa in Nakulabye, Uganda Registration Services Bureau and at Katwe police station among others.
Court Martial presided over by chairperson Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe on Monday refused to grant their bail application filed nine months ago.
The accused had sought bail on grounds that the charges against them are bailable by the Court Martial and that they have substantial sureties who included their spouses, relatives and parents.
However the State led by Lt Gift Mubehamwe and Lt Elly Musiguzi of the Special Investigations Bureau of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence rejected their bail. Lt Mubehamwe told court that the accused would interfere with ongoing investigations or abscond from bail.
He gave one example of one Olivia Lutaaya who was granted bail recently on a case of possession of ammunition, only to return to court again.
Court has also heard that one of the accused persons Muhydin Kakooza was already convicted of contempt of court and is still serving a sentence of eight months and therefore he shouldn’t be given bail.
The prosecution also stated that the sureties presented to the court failed to provide clear identification.
The Court has now fixed October 11th 2022 to decide on the application and the applicants have been further remanded to Luzira Prison until then.
The accused persons are:
Yasin Ssekitoleko alias Machete, Robert Christopher Rugumayo, Ronald Mayiga, Patrick Mwase, Simon Kijambo, Abdu Matovu, Richard Nyombi, Olivia Lutaaya, Ronald Kijambo, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Mesach Kiwanuka, Abdalla Kintu, Umar Emma Kato and Musa Kavuma.
Others accused persons are Ibrahim Wandera, Asbert Nagwere, Steven Musakulu, Jimmy Galukande, Paul Muwanguzi, Kenneth Kamanya, Sharif Matovu, Shafiq Ngobi, Davis Mafabi, Abdallah Hakim Gibusiwa, Livingstone Katushabe Kigozi, Obalai Siraji Mudebo, Joseph Muganza and Stanley Lwanga.