Lt.Gen.Gutti sworn in as army court boss for fourth term

Lt.Gen. Andrew Gutti has been sworn in as the General Court Martial chairman for the fourth term in office.

The UPDF high command chaired by President Museveni reappointed Gutti as the army court boss to serve for his fourth term.

On Monday, Colonel Richard Tukacungurwa, the court’s Judge Advocate (adviser) presided over the swearing ceremony for all the members at Makindye before they started work.

The court then started the new term of office on a high note by charging five people including former UPDF soldiers of aggravated robbery and murder in regards to the recent spate of attacks on mobile money points.

The other 17 army court members whose term was also extended were sworn in on Monday.

These include Maj General Joseph Arocha, Colonel Richard Tukacungurwa,( the Judge Advocate), Lt Colonel Medard Bagambe, Lt Col Raphael Mugisha (lead Prosecutor) Maj. John Bizimana(Secretary), Maj. Kamanda Silas Mutungi( Defense Counsel), Captain Wilfred Karugwara, Lt Faridah Amooti Kiiza and Warrant Officer I, Chrysostom John Kisembo.

Those on the reserve include Brig. George Etyang, Lt Col Henry Nevatone, Lt Col Sadler Katono, Lt Col Lydia Nandundu Lt Henry Bunalema, Lt Fatuma Njutti, and Warrant Officer Paul Katende.

According to the UPDF Act 2005, the General Court Martial consists of a chairman who shall not be below the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel, senior officers, junior officers, a political commissar, and a non -commissioned officer and these members are appointed by the High Command for a period of one year.

Gen.Gutti was appointed in 2016 replacing the late Maj Gen Levi Karuhanga who died in May 2016.

As chairman Gutti was the man who sentenced notorious Boda Boda 2010 patron Abdalla Kitatta to 10 years’ imprisonment after being found in illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The army court chaired by Lt.Gen.Gutti also handled a number of big cases including that of senior police officers; Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma, and Senior Superintendent of Police Nickson Agasirwe accused of kidnapping and extraditing Lt.Joel Mutabazi, a former bodyguard to Rwanda president Paul Kagame.