Army court acquits nine people accused of attacking Kabamba barracks

Nine people accused of plotting the attack on Kabamba barracks have been acquitted of the charges by the General Court Martial in Makindye, the Nile Post has learnt.

The group including Nassim Namuzimule , Sgt Ndugga Musaazi, Ssemwogerere Marvin Kato , Mukiibi Ali, Lumala Salongo, Biyimbwa Herbert , Kiwanuka Francis Kaheru , Matovu Solomon and Kibirige Peteri in September wrote to the army court renouncing the activities and asked for amnesty.

On Monday, the court ruled that having received original certificates from the Amnesty Commission, it was only prudent that the accused are acquitted of charges related to the attack on Kabamba barracks.

“Therefore, this court having heard from both counsel and addressed its mind to the laws cited by counsel for the accused persons agrees that they be set free since they have no other charges,”Lt.Gen. Andrew Gutti, the court chairman ruled on Monday.

“Accordingly, this court hereby sets them free unless they are held on other lawful charges.”

This comes a few months after four of the accused pleaded guilty to the charges before being dismissed from the army.

Four UPDF soldiers including; Lt Col Philip Frank Eguma 42, Capt. Hillman Bosco Aleper 36, Lt Ronald Waibi Mwavu, 36 and Pt. Kenneth Sekajja,32 pleaded guilty to committing offences related to security when they planned to attack the army installation before being convicted and later dismissed from the army with disgrace.

The four officers were formerly attached to the UPDF Air Defence section in Nakasongola,Kimaka and armoured warfare training school in Mubende.

It was alleged that the group convened meetings and recruited people to join a rebel group known as Uganda Democratic Federation and to successfully do this, they conducted reconnaissance in Karma and Kabamba barracks with intensions of attacking them.

The developments on Monday now means that the case file has been closed after all the suspects pleaded guilty and were punished by being dismissed from the army (UPDF soldiers) whereas the others requested for amnesty before being acquitted and set free.