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The Monitor (Kampala)
January 18, 2004
Posted to the web January 19, 2004
Emmanuel N. Mugarura
Kampala
The former Internal Security Organisation [ISO] boss, Brig. Henry Tumukunde has been disarmed as a condition for his bail.
The commandant of the Military Police in Makindye, Lt. Col. Dick Bugingo has said.
"They have handed over the escorts, the ammunitions and the arms in their possession," Bugingo said.
He however declined to discuss details. "Ask the army spokesman to give you the details of how many [escorts] they were given and what arms they had," Bugingo said.
The army Spokesman, Maj Shaban Bantariza, when contacted on phone, Saturday, said he had no useful comment for Sunday Monitor. "I have no useful information for The Monitor," he said.
Mr Abdu Katuntu, one of Tumukunde's defence lawyers told Sunday Monitor yesterday that he (Tumukunde) had handed over his military escorts and personal guns as required by the General Court Martial court.
"Yes, he has handed over the guns and military escorts as required by court," Katuntu said. Tumukunde was on Wednesday charged with disobedience, misuse of funds of up to Shs 120 million, neglect of duty and abuse of office. He pleaded not guilty to all the four counts.
He was then asked by court to hand over his passport, all guns in his possession, army escorts and report to court every Thursday, among conditions.
"We handed over his [Tumukunde's] diplomatic passport to the court on Thursday and on Friday morning we handed over the rest," Katuntu said.
Though he refused to disclose the number of escorts and guns he handed over, he said his client had complied with all the court requirements.
"All I can say is that we met all the conditions as laid by court, the bail conditions were all met," the lawyer cum politician said.
Sunday Monitor has also learnt that the former acting chief of Staff, Brig. Nakibus Lakara, handed over his passport to court on Friday morning, an hour before the 10 a.m. deadline.
"I can confirm to you that the brigadier handed over all the military escorts, the arms and his passport as the court asked him to do," Dr Oboth Okumu, Lakara's lawyer told Sunday Monitor yesterday.
Lakara is charged with eight counts before the general court martial. He is one of the three brigadiers that were charged by the court.
Other than Tumukunde, the other Brigadier is Steven Kashaka, the former military attach� to the East African Community in Arusha.
Prosecution led by Kampala lawyer, Mr John Katende asked court to peg conditions to the bail before the suspects' application could be considered.
The officers are restricted from moving out of Kampala without the Chief of Staff's knowledge.
Oboth told Sunday Monitor on Friday that this was a requirement of all military personnel.
"The army chief of staff as the administrator must always be informed of the movements of his officers," he said.
