July 24, 1999 Kampala
A woman, Sarah Nabakooza, suspected to be an Allied Democratic Front (ADF) rebel commander has been charged with the murder 20 Kichwamba Technical College students in 1998. The accused who was holding her baby girl while in the dock, did not take any plea when she appeared before Buganda Road court acting chief magistrate, Catherine Bamugemereire yesterday. She was told her offence is only tribal by the High Court. Bamugemereire advised Nabakooza to apply for bail in the High Court. She clarified that her court would consider granting the accused bail on completion of 360 days on remand. "You will be sentenced to death if the High Court proves you guilty of the offence," Bamugemereire told the accused. According to prosecution, Nabakooza and ADF rebels still at large, on June 6, 1998 at National Technical College, Kichwamba in Kasese district murdered 20 students. They are alleged to have poured petrol in the college dormitories and killed students. The deceased are; Sam Mukasa E. Kasajja, Charles Sebugwawo, Charles Sekitto, Kakembo, Yusuf Lukyamuzi, Wilson Lule, Charles Kekiko John Bosco Lutala Chrysostom Nsimbi and Mayombo, Mukasa, Paulo Lwanga, Robert Lubega, Amirani Kule, Nsubuga Fred Sekamatte, Robert Lubega Mark Ddungu and Moses Musoke. Prosecutor Donato Eponga applied for an adjournment saying inquiries into the charges were incomplete. Case was adjourned to August 20 and Nabakooza was remanded. Kichwamba Raid Commander Held New Vision (Kampala) May 18, 1999 Kampala The Allied Democratic Forces commander suspected to have led the Kichwamba Technical Institute attack in which 80 student were burnt to death in June last year has been arrested. Sarah Nabakooza, 29, was arrested last Wednesday in Bihanga trading centre, Ibanda Mbarara district while on a mission to command an attack on Bihanga. Intelligence sources said Nabakooza had crossed from the ranges of Mt. Rwenzori with 30 rebels. They had planned to attack Bihanga and steal uniforms and other army equipment. Nabakooza told The New Vision she voluntarily joined the ADF rebels in 1994 after deserting the UPDF where she served for three years. She said she stayed in Mbarara Kadogo military barracks and was later taken to Magamaga in Jinja where she deserted the army. She was born in Kaaliro, Lyantonde in Masaka district. She said all the weapons that are being used by the ADF rebels were supplied by Sudan through Zaire during Mobutu's regime. She said they lack supplies now since all the routes have been sealed off. The UPDF Second Division Commander, Lt. Col. Benon Biraro, said more soldiers have been deployed in Mbarara. "There is no need for panic. The army will deal with them," he said. ---- Kichwamba: Soldiers Say ADF Overwhelmed Them New Vision (Kampala) March 29, 1999 Kampala LT. Rajab Kasozi Thursday told the Army General Court Martial that his unit was overwhelmed by the ADF firepower. The rebels raided Kichwamba college and set about 80 students on fire June 8, 1998. Kasozi was giving his defence in a case where he and 15 other UPDF soldiers are charged with cowardice in action and failure to execute their duties. The two counts, upon conviction, carry a maximum death sentence. "We were few in numbers and ill-equipped. I was not on radio communication with my superiors. I had few superior weapons and yet the enemy force was well equipped and numbered over 150," Kasozi said. Under cross-examination by the court chief prosecutor, Cpt. Zziwa Kityo, Kasozi denied he fled with his troops and hid from the advancing rebels. "We fought for about 40 minutes. We ran out of ammunition and we were overpowered by the enemy," Kasozi, who spoke in Kiswahili, told a well attended court. Mr. Abubaker M. Kaweesa and Cpt. Michael Kagambirwe represent the accused. The court judge advocate is Lt. J.B. Matovu. When asked by his defence lawyer whether when soldiers go to battle, they go to die, Kasozi said it was not true. Meanwhile, members of the General Court Martial yesterday visited Kichwamba college. The court was invited to visit the scene of crime by the defence lawyer of the 16 accused soldiers, Abubakar M. Kaweesa. He told court chaired by Lt. Col. Clovis Kabyebara, the soldiers tried their level best to resist the enemy but were overwhelmed. "They did not run away. They did not fail to execute their duties," Kaweesa said. But the chief prosecutor Captain Kizza Kityo said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the accused acted in a cowardly manner and failed in their duties. "The UPDF is not about cowards. You cannot just let so many lives to be lost by fleeing. This court must convict the accused and sentence them accordingly to restore confidence in the UPDF," Kityo said. But Kaweesa said the accused should not be sacrificed because their bosses did not give them enoughfacilities. __________ bwanika Logon & Join in ug-academicsdb discussion list http://www.coollist.com/subcribe.html List ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your Email address: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ url: http://uhpl.uganda.co.ug http://pub59.ezboard.com/fugandamanufacturersassociationfrm1
