Prime
Sejusa aides set to walk free - lawyer
Negotiations are underway for the State to drop charges of an alleged plot to overthrow the government against six soldiers, who were aides to the former coordinator of Intelligence Services, Gen David Sejusa (pictured). File photo
What you need to know:
Order from above. The army court martial was informed that President Museveni gave a directive that the six be released
Kampala. Negotiations are underway for the State to drop charges of an alleged plot to overthrow the government against six soldiers, who were aides to Gen David Sejusa, the former coordinator of Intelligence Services.
Mr Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, who represents the suspects, told the General Court Martial chairman, Gen Levi Karuhanga, that President Museveni had directed the head of Legal Services in the army to begin the process.
“I know for sure the State has set something into motion. Why doesn’t court grant these young men bail as we wait for the charges to be dropped. I am privy to the negotiations and the President is willing to set them free,” said Mr Rwakafuuzi.
Mr Rwakafuuzi is lawyer to the six soldiers, among them two junior officers of the elite Special Forces Command.
The other suspects are four men who worked in various capacities in the Office of the Coordinator of Intelligence Services formerly headed by Gen Sejusa.
The accused persons were indicted for treason, aiding and abetting a crime. Treason attracts a death sentence on conviction, according to the UPDF Act 2005.
However the military court dismissed Mr Rwakafuuzi’s submissions as speculations. Mr Rwakafuuzi argued it was unfair for the State to continue holding the accused persons in detention yet the principal suspect they are linked to is back and was seated freely in the court without any charge.
However, the court’s legal advisor, Lt Col Gideon Katinda said Mr Rwakafuuzi was indulging in speculations which could not be accepted by court.
“It is not true and we are not aware of any process. Let the trial take its natural course. If it is bail, it has to be applied for but not based on speculation of negotiations,” said Lt Col Kakinda.
The accused
Those charged with treachery are Lance Cpl Grace Nasasira Rwakyozi and Geoffrey Mwebaze Karuhanga attached to SFC’s Task force Battalion and two Tank Battalion, respectively, and 30-year-old Frank Ninsiima who was an operative in Gen Sejusa’s office.
Prosecution alleges that the trio and others still at large, in or around the months of March to May 2013, and while in the areas of Mityana and Kampala, “consciously failed to disclose to proper authorities vital information about the recruitment of people to engage into activities intended to overthrow the legitimate government of Uganda”.
According to the charge sheet, the two SFC soldiers, then based in Mityana District, were procured by their co-accused to recruit colleague presidential guards into “subversive activities”.
Prosecution alleges that James Karuhanga Nayebale, Moses Nuwagaba Kakarugahi and soldier/businessman Abel Twinamasiko alias Rubanuma in two months from March this year, conspired with others to aid, abet, counsel and procure other persons to overthrow Gen Museveni’s government.
