Former Flying Squad commander Muhangi asks army court to release him so he can treat ulcers

The former Police Flying Squad commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Herbert Muhangi has asked the army court to release him on bail so he can get treatment for an illness he has for over 10 years.

In his affidavit presented before the General Court Martial in Makindye on Tuesday, Muhangi said the army doctors had admitted that they cannot treat the illness and asked that he should be left to try medication outside the military detention.

“My client has had a record of skeptic ulcers since 2007 but has never got medication while in detention. The military police doctors admitted they are not able to treat the illness,”Muhangi said through Capt. Charles Ssekayita, one of the defence lawyers.

He argued that he has spent over 200 days in detention, adding that it is high constitutional right to be granted bail because he is still innocent until proven guilty by the court.

According to the former Flying Squad commander, he has a fixed place of abode in Kireka where his children and wife are currently staying without anyone to fend for them since his arrest.

He presented three people to stand surety for him, including Assistant Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Muhairwe, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Elvis Byamugisha and Robert Kakuru, a lecturer from Makerere University.

The case was adjourned to February 11 to allow the state prosecutors respond to the bail application by the senior police officer.

The army last year launched an onslaught on a number of senior police officers close to the then Inspector General of Police before arresting a number of them.

Muhangi was among the officers arrested in June 2018 before being detained at the Makindye military barracks.

He is currently facing a number of charges relating to crimes allegedly committed during the 12 year tenure for Kayihura as the police chief.

The former Flying Squad commander is charged jointly with Gen.Kayihura, Col.Ndahura Atwooki, the former Police Director in charge of Crime Intelligence, SSP Richard Ndaboine (former head of Police Cyber Crime Unit) and Nixon Agasiirwe(former commander, Special Operations Unit).

Others are AIP Jonas Ayebaze, ASP Patrick Muramira(former deputy commander police Special Operations Unit) and Detective constable Abel Kitagenda.

They are accused of aiding, abetting kidnap and repatriation of Rwandese refugees back to Rwanda.

It is alleged that between the year 2012 and 2016, by omission and commission, the group aided and abetted the actions of subordinate police officers and others on various occasions without hindrance to kidnap and illegally repatriated Rwandan exiles,refugees and Ugandan citizens to Rwanda including Lt.Joel Mutabazi, Jackson Karemera and Sgt. Innocent Karisa.

They are also charged with failure to protect war materials contrary to section 122(1) (2) (d) of the UPDF Act 2005.

It is also alleged that between the year 2010 and 2018 the police officers on various occasions allowed the issue of arms and ammunition to unauthorized persons including members of Boda boda 2010 led by one Abdallah Kitatta.

The group is also accused of failure to supervise and ensure accountability for the arms and ammunitions issued to specialized units under the office of the Inspector General of Police including the Flying Squad, Special Operations Unit, witness protection unit and the Crime Intelligence directorate of the police force.