Kitatta’s lawyer expelled from army court for ‘banging tables’

The General Court Martial in Makindye has expelled Jimmy Muyanja, one of the lawyers representing embattled Boda Boda 2010 patron Abdalla Kitatta from court over indiscipline.

Kitatta is accused together with 12 others over offences related to unlawful possession of military hardware.

On Tuesday, the case came up for cross-examination of Private Richard Kasajja, an operative from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence who was among the officers who arrested Kitatta and other Boda Boda 2010 members in January.

During the proceedings, one of the lawyers notified court that the army prosecutors led by Maj.Raphael Mugisha were assisting the witness to answer questions prompting court to ask them (prosecutors) to explain themselves.

Meanwhile, as Maj.Mugisha was defending himself, Muyanja banged the table claiming that what his colleague from the prosecution was saying were lies.

Gutti fumes

Meanwhile, the court chairman, Lt.Gen.Andrew Gutti got irate over what he termed as disrespect from the lawyer by banging tables while his colleague was presenting.

“Your colleague is deliberating and you bang the table! Get out of this court and don’t return,” the incensed Lt.Gen.Gutti said.

“Who are you in this court? Why do you bang the table? I only saw such indiscipline in parliament (during age limit debate).”

Efforts by Muyanja to apologize to the court chairman over his conduct fell on deaf ears as an order had already been made.

Fellow defence lawyers including Shaban Sanywa  were seen trying to apologize to the court chairman over the behavior of their colleague but he stood his ground.

Lt.Gen.Gutti said he would never allow the lawyer ever to return to the court.

“This is not the first time he is doing it. He is short tampered and has to sort himself. I have taken the decision and is final. May be another chairman can reverse it,” Lt. Gen.Guti said.

He ordered military police officers to force the lawyer out of the court.

This is not the first time the court chairman is incensed over the behavior of Kitatta’s lawyers.

The previous time, the chairman lost his cool and ordered entire team of lawyers representing boda boda 2010 patron Abdalla Kitatta and his co-accused out of court over what he termed as foolery.

The angry court chairman would later cool down and asked the lawyers never to take his court for granted as they had done before.

“I know you read books but you must be disciplined. Let me now accommodate you but must keep discipline,” he said.

Kitatta is accused together with 12 other Boda boda 2010 members including; Matia Ssenfuka, Joel Kibirige, Hassan Ssemata, Jonathan Kayondo, Ssengooba Hassan, Sande Ssemwogerere, John Ssebandeke, Hussein Mugema, Sowali Ngobi, Fred Bwanika and Amon Twinomujuni with a number of offences related to unlawful possession of military hardware and unlawful possession of a gun, pistol and ammunition.

They are accused of unlawful possession of 30 and 20 rounds of ammunition for SMG rifles and pistol respectively which are government stores contrary to section 161 of the UPDF Act.

The army also accuses the group of unlawful possession of military equipment including headgear and uniforms which are a monopoly of the defence forces.