Court Martial cancels bail for police officers

The General Court Martial in Makindye has ordered for the immediate cancellation of the bail for three police officers, after the officers challenged their trial by the army court at the High court.

Last month the court released on bail James Magada,Katende Faisal and Amon Kwarisiima .

On Tuesday,the group's lawyers led by Caleb Alaka and Frank Kanduho told court there was a High Court order stopping proceedings at the army court in regards to the police officers.

The group is accused of kidnapping Lt.Joel Mutabazi and repatriating him to Rwanda using pistols and grenades in 2013.

Last month ACP Joel Aguma took to the high court civil division challenging the trial by army court.

"The High Court ruled that being police officers,the accused are authorised to carry arms in performance of their duties,"Alaka told court.

He argued that it was wrong for the army court to continue holding onto them despite a court order for their release.

Alaka said the army court did not have jurisdiction to try the police officers adding that continued detention and trial was illegal.

In response,the state prosecutor Maj.Raphael Mugisha argued that the High Court order was not in respect to all charges.

He said the court never gave immunity to the suspects in any other case adding that they can still be charged with other offences.

However in response,the visibly irate Lt.Gen.Andrew Guti adjourned the matter to March 27 before cancelling bail for the three police officers.

"There is harmony in this country because the UPDF respects the law,"he noted.

"Bail is cancelled and all the police officers should be detained at the Makindye Military police barracks."

Nine people including former commander police Special Operations Unit, Senior Superitendent of Police Nixon Agasiirwe, Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma(Commandant of Professional Standard Unit) Sgt Abel Tumukunde ( Flying Squad) James Magada (Crime Intelligence), Faisal Katende(Flying Squad),Amon Kwarisima,Rene Rutangira(Rwandese) and Bahati Mugenga(Congolese) are accused of kidnapping before repatriating Lt.Joel Mutabazi, a former bodyguard to Rwandan president Paul Kagame to Rwanda in 2013.