The two bodyguards for Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi, Maj.Gen.Matayo Kyaligonza have been arraigned before the army court and charged with assaulting a police officer.
In February Kyaligonza and his two military police guards were seen in a video clip assaulting Sgt. Esther Namaganda, a traffic police officer who was stopping them from making a U- turn in the middle of the road in Seeta .
The two military police officers were arrested and detained at Makindye military barracks.
On Tuesday, Lance Corporal Peter Bushindiki and Peter Robert Okurut all from the 10th battalion were arraigned before the Unit Disciplinary Committee of Military Police Brigade Chaired by Lt Col Richard Okum.
They were charged with common assault contrary to Section 235 of the Penal Code Act Cap 120.
The two soldiers however, pleaded not guilty to the offence before the army prosecutor told court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
The accused applied for bail which was granted with stringent conditions of not getting out of the barracks without authorization and reporting to the legal officer three times a week.
The case was adjourned to 26 April 2019.
Last week, Maj.Gen.Kyaligonza refused to heed to criminal summons by the Magistrates court in Mukono to answer charges related to assault and obstruction of a police officer on duty.
The case was adjourned by the court.
The Ambassador’s woes followed an incident in February when Kyaligonza and his two military police guards were seen in a video clip assaulting Sgt. Esther Namaganda for stopping them from making a U- turn in the middle of the road in Seeta.
The two military police officers were arrested and detained at Makindye military barracks according to the army spokesperson. It is not clear how far their case has gone.
A Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) journalist also sued Kyaligonza for assaulting and torturing him while on duty.
“As a journalist and concerned citizen, the second applicant (Otai) run to the scene and demanded to know from the first respondent (Kyaligonza) why his guards including Corporal Peter Bushindiki and Priv. Robert Okurut were assaulting a female police officer on duty. At the same time, he begun taking photos of the situation for purposes of filing a press story later about the incident,” the court documents presented by Peter Otai read.
“No sooner had he started taking photos, than Kyaligonza and his bodyguards pounced and beat him. The respondents are commanded by Article 202 and 212 of the 1995 constitution to observe, respect, uphold, protect and promote fundamental human rights and freedoms but their impugned actions fell short of the said obligations.”
Parliament recently passed a resolution in which it asked for the recalling of Kyaligonza from Burundi as Uganda’s Ambassador for behaving in an embarrassing manner.
In response, Kyaligonza said the MPs who moved a motion saying they are stupid.
“The MP who moved motion for my recall is stupid. You can quote me on that,” he said.
“I am shocked at the manner in which parliament handled my fate. How can a house with MPs who jump over chairs and do many dubious things pre -judge me without a chance to be heard,” Kyaligonza wondered.
