Concerns as Uganda court convicts Sejusa aides of treason
Gen David Sejusa's aides in the dock at the General court martial in Makindye on Tuesday during the judgement. They will return for sentencing on July 18. PHOTO | MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
Some of the convicted soldiers served in the elite Special Forces Command under the command of Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The military court in Kampala on Tuesday returned a guilty verdict against a number of soldiers and civilian aides of the now dissident former Coordinator of Intelligence Agencies, Gen. David Sejusa.
The convictions are bound to raise concerns over the fate of the men that are alleged to have been working with Gen. Sejusa (formerly known as David Tinyefuza), who until his recent fall out was seen as one of the most senior and close allies in President Yoweri Museveni’s regime.
The convicted soldiers were rounded up between 2013 and 2014 after Sejusa fled the country following leakage of an explosive letter in which he alleged a plot to eliminate senior military officers whom he claimed were opposed to a 'Project Mohoozi' - an apparent scheme to prepare Muhoozi Kainerugaba to take over from his father, President Museveni.
They were accused of attempting to overthrow the government.
Sejusa returned to the country a year later after a secret deal negotiated with the President but his aides remained in prison despite his appeals for them to be freed.
He was also later arrested and kept in prison for several weeks early this year during the country's February election that returned Mr Museveni to power with 60.7 per cent of the vote.
Sejusa was alleged to be working with jailed opposition politician and former Presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye.
While Sejusa is out on bail, Mr Besigye is on remand battling several cases in various courts, key among them a charge of treason.
The General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti on Tuesday held that prosecution proved the charges of treachery and aiding or abetting commission of offence against the accused persons.
Both offences attract a maximum penalty of death.
“It is our finding that prosecution has proved the charges and we convict the accused persons as charged,” ruled Gen. Gutti before adjourning the case to July 18 for sentencing.
Those convicted of treachery are Lance Corporals Grace Nasasira Rwakyozi, 39, and Geoffrey Mwebaze Karuhanga, 36, attached to SFC’s Task force Battalion and Tank Battalion, respectively.
Frank Ninsiima, who was an operative in Tinyefuza’s office, was found guilty of aiding or abetting commission of the offence.
Others are James Karuhanga Nayebare, Moses Nuwagaba Kakarugahi and Abel Twinamasiko alias Rubanuma.
Some of the convicted soldiers served in the elite Special Forces Command under the command of Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
