Former Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura and Boda Boda 2010 leader Abdullah Kitatta to appear before the General Court Martial today.
Gen Kale Kayihura’s vulnerability was exposed when he was sacked as Inspector General of Police (IGP) on March 4 last year and replaced with his deputy Martins Okoth-Ochola. He was arrested by army on June 13, later charged in the military court on August 24 and released on bail on August 28. As 2018 elapsed.
Gen Kayihura was later to spend 73 days in Makindye Military Barracks without trial. The public quickly judged he deserved it. While still IGP, Kayihura had proposed that suspects be detained for at least 90 days without trial to enable investigators accomplish their work.
On August 24, Gen Kayihura was dragged to the General Court Martial in Makindye and charged with aiding and abetting kidnap by commission and repatriating Rwandan exiles and refugees and Ugandan citizens to Rwanda between 2012 and 2016. He was also accused of failing to protect war material by issuing arms to unauthorised persons including the jailed Kitatta between 2010 and 2018. He denied the charges.
His lawyers’ verbal attempt to have him released on bail on first appearance in court was rejected by the court chairman Lt Gen Andrew Gutti who asked them to apply in writing. On August 28, Gen Kayihura was granted bail upon presenting two generals as sureties; Maj Gen Sam Kavuma and Maj Gen James Mugira.
Nevertheless, Kayihura’s mobility was restricted to Kampala and Wakiso districts. He was ordered to report to court every first Monday of the month. He cannot travel abroad without permission by or the army leadership.
He has been allowed to move out of the country for treatment. But his co-accused remain in prison to date. Different faces of justice.
