Army court: Boda boda 2010's Kitatta has a case to answer

The General Court Martial has ruled that Boda Boda 2010 patron Abdallah Kitatta and nine members of the group have a case to answer.

In a Monday ruling,the army court chairman Lt.Gen.Kitatta said that evidence adduced by the prosecution proved that there was a prema facie case adding that the group have to defend themselves on the allegations.

"Abdallah Kitatta,Ngobi Sowali and Ibrahim Ssekagya were found in the same vehicle UAK 135B in which an SMG rifle was found and they tried to run away," said Lt.Gen. Guti.

"The three have a case to answer for being in possession of a firearm unlawfully."

The court ruled that the trio is liable for the rounds of ammunitions found in Kitatta's vehicle because they were the occupants.

The trio was also asked to defend themselves on allegations of being found with a pistol found in Kitatta's vehicle unlawfully.

"The warrant card for Ngobi Sowali(police officer) didn't show that he was armed with any fire arm yet Kitatta owned the vehicle to which the two including Ibrahim Ssekagya was an occupant."

The court also put Kitatta on defence for the golden pistol found with him in a hotel room at Vine Tea along Wakaliga road.

"The pistol was found with him in the hotel and not the vehicle where the other two remained,"the court ruled.

They were also asked to account for the rounds found in the three fire arms.

The court also ruled that the nine members of Boda Boda 2010 and their patron Abdalla Kitatta had to answer for the military hardware including uniforms and caps found at the group's offices in Wakaliga.

However,the court declined to grant an order to the defence lawyers allowing them to extract footage from surveillance cameras at Vine Tea hotel to be used in their defence as had been requested.

"Vine Tea is a private business and the court martial has now powers over them. Go talk to them about it,"Lt.Gen.Gutti said.

The 10 people set to defend themselves over the charges related to unlawful possession of fire arms and ammunition include: Abdalla Kitatta,Ngobi Sowali,Ibrahim Ssekagya,Joel Kibirige,John Ssebandeke, Fred Bwanika,Hassan Ssematta,Amon Twinomujuni, Hussein Mugema

The court has set January 7 as the date for the group to start defending themselves.