The General Court Martial in Makindye has dropped charges against seven senior police officers who were charged with among others kidnapping of Rwandan refugees during the reign of Gen Kale Kayihura as the Inspector General of Police.
On Tuesday, the army court chaired by Brig Freeman Mugabe dropped charges against Senior Superintendent of Police Nixon Agasiirwe, Assistant Commissioner of Police Herbert Muhangi, Col Ndahura Atwooki, Senior Superintendent of Police Richard Ndabine , Assistant Superintendent of Police Patrick Muramira, Assistant Inspector of Police Jonas Ayebaza and Detective Constable Abel Kitagenda Muyomba.
The development followed a nolle prosequi presented by the army prosecutors led by Lt Col Raphael Mugisha in which they said they had lost interest in the case.
“This nolle prosequi is meant to protect the interests of the state and that of the accused persons,” Lt Col Mugisha told court on Tuesday as he quoted section 134 of the Trial on Indictments Act .
He consequently asked court to discontinue charges against the seven police officers.
Consequently, the army court chairman discontinued the charges.
“I take notice that the government of Uganda of the Republic of Uganda intends that the proceedings against the accused persons shall not continue,” Brig Freeman said.
The group was accused of using their police authority to kidnap and forcefully return Rwandan citizens back home against their will and without their consent contrary to the Penal Code Act.
Among those kidnapped and returned back to Rwanda was former bodyguard to Rwandan president Paul Kagame who was taken back home in 2013.
These were part of Gen Kayihura’s inner circle during his tenure as the police chief .
The dropping of the charges comes a day after John Martins Okoth Ochola handed over office as the Inspector General of Police.
Ochola replaced his then boss, Gen Kale Kayihura as the police chief.
