Nixon Agasiirwe denied bail
The General court martial in Makindye has denied bail to Nixon Agasiirwe, the former commander of the police Special Operations Unit.
The senior police officer is accused together with eight others of kidnapping and repatriating Lt.Joel Mutabazi , a former bodyguard to president Paul Kagame back to Rwanda in 2013.
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On Monday, the army court chaired by Lt.Gen.Andrew Guti said it could release Agasiirwe on bail because he he would interfere with investigations into the matter.
The court argued that being able to to convince one of his former bosses(Fortunate Habyara) to stand surety for him was a clear indicator he could interfere with witnesses who are his juniors.
Lt.Gen.Guti also said that the sureties including SSP Andrew Kaggwa, the commander operations in the Field Force Unit of the police force and Fortunate Habyara, the former commander Professional Standards Unit were not substantial since they never presented any letter from the Inspector General of Police allowing them to stand surety for him as required by the police standing orders.
"We dismiss the application, "Lt.Gen.Guti ruled.
Earlier, the court also denied bail to Joel Aguma, the former Professional Standards Unit commander but released three other co-accused in the kidnap case by the army court.
Prosecution alleges that on 25th October 2013 at Kammengo, in Mpigi district along Masaka road, the accused using a pistol and grenades abducted Lt. Joel Mutabaazi and Jackson Kalemera whom they took back to Rwanda without their knowledge contrary to the Penal Code Act.
Prosecution alleges that the accused are people subject to military law for using weapons(pistol and grenade) which are ordinarily a monopoly of the army according to the UPDF Act 2005.
Senior Superintendent of Police Nixon Agasiirwe recently petitioned the High Court in Kampala challenging his trial by the army court.
In his affidavit, Agasiirwe, 47 argued that as a police officer, he is entitled to a pistol and that the charges by the army court are fabricated.
