The General Court Martial in Makindye has remanded five people on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated robbery.
The suspects were charged before the court on Tuesday presided over by Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe on Tuesday afternoon. They are Faizal Mutaawe a broker and resident of Karina Zone Namasuba Makindye Division, Jonathan Drake Mawejje a resident of Madirisa Zone also in Makindye Division, and Muhammad Balikoowa a fish monger.
Others are Teopista Mbabazi and Ashraf Ssekulima Ssendawula all residents of Namagoma B Cell in Nsangi Town Council in Wakiso District.
Court heard that on June 15 2022 at 10 pm while at Kiyanja Zone , Kyengera Town Council in Wakiso District, the group robbed Peter Wahadatu of his motorcycle Registration number UFJ 779M red in color. It is alleged that they were in possession of a Sub Machine Gun-SMG rifle which is a monopoly of the Defense Forces.
The accused persons who have spent two months under the Custody of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence denied the charges.
They were reportedly arrested when Wahadatu reported a case of a stolen motorcycle that had a tracking device. It was tracked and seen parked under the basement of one of the buildings in Kampala City.
While at the building, detectives intercepted Mutaawe, who led them to the rest of the suspects.
It is also alleged that on June 2nd, 2022, the accused persons robbed a gun at one of the fuel stations in Kyengera after disarming a security guard.
According to sources, the suspects except Mbabazi met in prison for various offenses, became friends, and executed several robberies after their release.
Cases of aggravated robbery are common before the Court Martial. Last year, two groups of people were tried and found guilty of various robberies including the robbery of mobile money agents, and they were subsequently sentenced to death.
They were remanded until September 5, 2022. Mbabazi was sent to Luzira Prison and the other suspects to Kitalya Prison.
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