Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has arrested Lt Col Deziderio Balidda attached to the Field Artillery Division in Masindi District for allegedly recruiting soldiers into rebel activities and disclosing secret information to unauthorized people.
The military court martial sitting in Makindye presided over by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti on Wednesday heard that in August this year while at Naguru and Ntinda suburbs in Kampala and other diverse places in Masindi, the accused persons recruited soldiers and disclosed secret information to unauthorized persons with intent to prejudice the security of the defence forces.
Quoting Section 130 of the UPDF Act, State prosecutor, Maj Raphael Mugisha said, “a person, subject to military law, who discloses by word of mouth or by document, confidential information to the enemy or to unauthorized members of the Defence Forces or the public, commits an offence and is liable to suffer death on conviction”
Maj Raphel Mugisha however sought for more time to complete thourough investigations into the matter.
Lt Col Balidda who was jointly charged with Warrant Officer II Robert Wanyama and Ivan Asiimwe (gun repairer at the artillery base) denied the charges but court chairman Lt Guti remanded them to Makindye Military prison until December 20 when their case will come up for mention.
According to the military court martial, four cases have so far been recorded with members of the Force facing similar charges including Lt Col Philip Frank Eguma, formerly of the Armoured Warfare Training School in Mubende District accused of attempting to attack Kabamba Army Barracks.
In Gulu, 19 suspects (UPDF junior officers and civilians) are undergoing trial over the failed attack on Gulu army detach and Gulu Central Police Station.
The maximum sentence for the above alleged offences is death upon conviction.
