9 officers arriving at the Court Martial in Makindye
Nine people including five police officers arrested by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), which is also hunting three others in a crackdown were this morning brought before the General Court Martial.
The session was chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Guti, the chairman of the General Court Martial over espionage charges.
The suspects who also include Rwandans and Congolese nationals are accused of conspiracy with a neighbouring country to kidnap refugees in Uganda, who are perceived to be opponents of their home government.
The Commandant of Police Professional Standard Unit, Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma, Senior Superintendent of Police Nixon Agasirwe, former commander of Police Special Operations, Sgt Abel Tumukunde under the Flying Squad, Assistant Superintendent of Police Magada under Crime Intelligence and Faisal Katende under the Flying Squad are the officers detained.
Security sources said three other police officers eluded the arrest and are “on the run”.
Prosecution also alleges that the 9 accused last month at Kamengo, Mpigi District while in unlawful possession of guns and grenades, a monopoly of UPDF, abducted a one Mutabaazi Joel from Rwanda. The five who are appearing at the Makindye based Court Martial had been going to military intelligence headquarters for interrogation since Friday till they were arrested on Tuesday.
Some of the suspects have previously been implicated in various cases. Joseph Baroza, Kayihura’s former aide who is away in Algeria is also being pursued. There were reports that he will be repatriated soon.
Mr Aguma was suspended in 2013 for allegedly kidnaping and handing over a former bodyguard of the neighbouring country’s president.
The former bodyguard, a lieutenant, had fled to Uganda but was kidnapped in Kampala by security personnel and handed over to the home government. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment by that country’s military court.
Mr Katende was suspended for alleged extortion in 2014. Their arrests, according to sources, came after President Museveni wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, ordering for an investigation by CMI.
They were arrested in the course of the week by officers of CMI and detained at Makindye military barracks.
