Mukono Chief Magistrate Juliet Hatanga has ordered for the arrest of Uganda’s ambassador to Burundi Rtd. Maj. Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza and his body guards.
The magistrate ordered that Maj Gen (rtd) Kyaligonza, his two bodyguards; Cpl Peter Busindiche and Pte John Okurut be arrested and taken to court on 10th June to plead to the charges after they repeatedly defied court summons.
Kyaligonza’s legal representatives from Balondemu and Co Advocates, Alaka and Co Advocates claimed that their client is being tried in two courts something prosecution dismissed.
Kyaligonza and the guards according to prosecution assaulted and injured a traffic police officer Esther Namaganda, who was carrying out her duties on February 24th.
Following the incident in which a journalist was also assaulted, the two officers were arrested and paraded before an internal UPDF disciplinary court.
Mr Alaka told the magistrate that all the accused belong to the army which has the jurisdiction under the UPDF Act, to discipline them.
“Your worship, on April 16th2019, the state attorney for UPDF instituted proceedings against the accused persons in the Court Martial on the same facts similar to those before you. Since they can be convicted and sentenced by both courts, we pray that this court terminates these proceedings because they are charged in Court Martial. That’s why all of them have not appeared in this court,” Mr Alaka said.
After court proceedings, Mr Alaka told journalists outside the courtroom that they would appeal to the High Court to cancel the arrest warrant against their clients.
Ms Namaganda was present in court with her husband, Mr Alphonse Musoni who also is a police officer.
