News Page 5 June 5 2018.Indd
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NATIONAL NEWS NEW VISION, Tuesday, June 5, 2018 5 Two charged over possession of uncustomed goods By Michael Odeng and Farooq Kasule Two people, including a former Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) employee, have been charged over possessing uncustomed goods valued at By Vision Reporters are also allegedly implicated based in the DR Congo. But sh141m. in a string of other crimes, it appears now the murder of Edison Muhangi, 37, currently a clearing agent More Police bosses have been including aggravated robbery Kaweesi that left the country and businessman Edward Lutalo, 32, were lined up for interrogation as and repatriation of refugees to shaken, could have been an yesterday arraigned before the Anti-Corruption investigations into the murder Rwanda, Somalia, Eritrea and inside job for yet unknown Court in Kololo, Kampala and charged with of former Police spokesperson, South Sudan. reasons. possession and interfering with goods subject Andrew Felix Kaweesi, “Many of these refugees lost Kitagenda worked under to customs control under the East African intensify. their money to Police bosses the embattled former Special Community customs management Act, 2004. The new development follows in the process, and, in some Operations Unit commandant, Muhangi and Lutalo are residents of Najjera the recent arrest of Abbey cases, they would be branded Nickson Agasirwe, currently on II, Nakawa and Gangu Busaabala, Makindye in Kitagenda, who was working terrorists before being arrested trial at the military court martial Kampala district respectively. with the disbanded Flying and repatriated,” the source told in Makindye, Kampala, over The Chief Magistrate, Agnes Alum read out Squad Unit, over the murder of New Vision. alleged forceful repatriation of the charges to the duo and they pleaded not Kaweesi early last year. The implicated Police officers Rwandan dissidents. guilty. Kaweesi, an assistant Inspector are expected to be summoned Sources say following the arrest Lutalo later applied for bail which was granted General of Police, was shot dead soon, for interrogation. of a number of Police officers, by court on a sh2m cash bond. His two sureties on March 17, 2017, as he left his “They have since been including Senior Commissioner were bonded at sh10m, not cash. home in Kulambiro, Kampala on put under surveillance and of Police Joel Aguma and Nixon Kaweesi URA accuses Muhangi of interfering with his way go to work. their movements are closely Agasirwe, late last year and their a container having 214 packages of assorted Kaweesi was killed together received information implicating being monitored,” the source prosecution before the military electronics from China, valued at sh141m with his body guard, Kenneth some senior police officers revealed. court martial, some of senior without paying taxes. Erau and driver, Geoffrey in the murder. The sources Kitagenda alias Abbas Police officers fled the country. URA lawyer Hilda Bakanansa revealed that Mambewa, by assailants however, declined to name the Muyomba, was the first According to sources, Kitagenda the duo was arrested as they off loaded the travelling on motorcycles. officers so as not to jeopardise Policeman to be arrested by the was among the officers who goods at Busega at night. Sources revealed that during investigations. CMI, in connection with the had fled, but returned to secure Investigations reveal that Lutalo took the goods the interrogation of Kitagenda, Besides the murder of gruesome murder of Kaweesi another passport in the name of to Kiseka market and that when the building the Chieftaincy of Military Kaweesi, the police officers previously blamed on the rebel Abbas Muyomba allegedly with was searched by URA officers, they found that Intelligence (CMI) operatives Allied Democratic Forces rebels an intention to flee the country. they had been cleared without paying taxes. Witnesses to record statements pinning Agasirwe By Michael Odeng and Cindy Aaca “ Investigations Five prosecution witnesses have so far recorded are in advanced statements with the Chieftaincy of Military stages and intelligence (CMI) against the former commander of Special Investigations Unit Nixon some witnesses Agasirwe on kidnap charges, the state has revealed. have already Yesterday, Maj. Raphael Mugisha made the revelation before the General Court recorded Martial presided over by Maj. Gen Andrew Gutti. statements He said the statements were recorded at the Special Investigations Bureau, a with CMI,” Gutti. department under CMI. The five, (whose names were not disclosed) are slated Kamengo in Mpigi district, to appear before court to while in unlawful possession testify against Agasirwe and of firearms and grenades, Abdulnul Ssemujju alias ordinarily a monopoly of the Minana 59, purported to be Uganda People’s Defence a Police informer attached to Forces. The accused persons disbanded Flying Squad. conveyed Kalemera and “Investigations are in Mutabazi to Rwanda. advanced stages and some The court case came after witnesses have already the Chieftaincy of Military recorded statements with Intelligence (CMI) recently CMI,” Gutti disclosed. arrested the senior and junior Agasirwe (right) and others at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala last year Police officers over a wide range of cases, including the Background murder of former Assistant Prosecution alleges that the court to compel prosecution repatriating two Rwandan Benon Atwebembeire and of unlawfully kidnapping Inspector General of Police, duo, on August 13, 2013 in to expedite investigations so nationals, alongside six Police detective Sergeant Abel Jackson Kalemera alias Andrew Felix Kaweesi. Lukole village Bajjo parish that the hearing of the case officers in another case in the Tumukunde. Others are Ndinga and Lieutenant Joel Subsequently, CMI Nyimbwa sub-county Bombo, could start. same court. Special Police Constable Mutabazi, who they allegedly operatives arrested Aguma, Luwero district while armed “Prosecution should be They are the former Police Faisal Katende, Detective delivered to Rwanda without Agasirwe and the seven with firearms and grenades informing us about the status Professional Standards Corporal Amon Kwarisima, a their consent. Mutabazi others, interrogated and conveyed Vincent Kaliisa of the case every two weeks.” Unit commandant Joel Rwandan army officer, Rene was a former bodyguard detained them. without his consent to the The case was adjourned to Aguma, detective Assistant Rutagungira and a Congolese, of Rwandan President Paul Republic of Rwanda. June 26 for mention. Superintendent of Police Pacifique Bahati Muhlgenga Kagame. The accused’s lawyer, Agasirwe is also facing James Magada, detective alias Ilunga Monga. Prosecution alleges that Additional reporting Chrisisteon Katumba asked charges of kidnapping and Assistant Inspector of Police The nine are accused on October 25, 2013, at by Joan Murungi .