Army court “releases” former MP Kipoi

The General Court Martial has released on bail, former Bubulo West Member of Parliament Tony Nsubuga Kipoi.

Kipoi who in April admitted to trying to overthrow government and asked for pardon was expected to return today for the army court to decide on whether to release him after his lawyers said he had applied for amnesty.

However, on Thursday morning, the state prosecutors led by Lt. Col.Raphael Mugisha told court that they have not finalized with consultations in regards Kipoi’s amnesty.

“We have not yet got feedback. We pray that we are given sometime to be able to respond,”Lt.Col. Mugisha requested.

However, the defence lawyers led by Maj. Charles Ssekayita asked court to temporarily release Kipoi and his co-accused as they await for the response by the prosecution.

“We pray the accused be released without sureties because the court has powers to do so,”Maj. Ssekayita asked court.

In return, the army court chairman, Lt.Gen.Andrew Gutti didn’t drag feet on the request and released all the accused temporarily without sureties.

Gutti however asked each of the  accused to report to the court every first Thursday of the month.

Kipoi who was early this year arrested in Botswana before being extradited back to Uganda was charged together with other UPDF soldiers of plotting to overthrow government before the General Court Martial in Makindye.

He however on April 30 said had been misled into acts of waging war against the Ugandan government and asked for pardon.

“I denounce any acts of rebellion against the state because I have not gained from them,”Kipoi told the Makindye based military court.”

The embattled former Bubulo West legislator is accused together with UPDF soldiers including Sgt. Yunus Lemeriga, Cpl Rogers Mweru, Sgt Adams Mawa, Sgt Albino Okeng and Pte Dodola Ijosiga all for offences related to security, contrary to section 130(i) of the UPDF Act 2005.

Prosecution alleges the group and others still at large between November 2012 and December 2013 convened meetings in areas of Kampala, Wakiso, Masaka, Jinja, Nakasongola and Ntoroko with an intent to overthrow government.

They are accused of organizing   meetings, mobilizing funds, acquiring firearms and military training in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and recruited people into Allied Democratic Forces ranks with an aim of overthrowing government.

In 2014, the General Court Martial in Makindye issued an arrest warrant over Kipoi after the treason charges in the civil court had been transferred to the army court.

In the same year, he was  thrown out of the August house for missing 15 sittings without justifying his absence.