Pastors, police and army officers among 31 remanded over plotting to overthrow govt

Appear in the dock at Makindye-based General Court Martial on December 5, 2023 PHOTO/JULIET KIGONGO

What you need to know:

• They are facing one count of treachery contrary to section 129 (a) of the UPDF Act 2005 and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to section 31 (2)(a) of the Firearms Act Cap 299.

Pastors, police officers and Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers are among 31 people who were on Tuesday remanded to prison on charges of treachery and unlawful possession of firearms.

The suspects who include civilians and soldiers attached to the Armored Brigade Headquarters appeared before the Makindye-based General Court Martial chaired by Brigadier General Freeman Robert Mugabe and denied all the charges against them.

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They are facing one count of treachery contrary to section 129 (a) of the UPDF Act 2005 and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to section 31 (2)(a) of the Firearms Act Cap 299.

Brig Mugabe said…”The jailed Security personnel will be kept in the Makindye Military Police Prison while the civilians will be remanded to Kigo prison until January 22, 2024 when they will appear in court for further mention of their case.”

Prosecution represented by Lt Col Raphael Mugisha and Lt Alex Mukhwana told court that investigations in the case are still on-going.

The suspects include; Capt Denish Oola Oyaa, 39, Lt Benjamin Edoru, 36, Jenaro Woil Oryek Sunday, 48, Sgt (deserter) Bernard Morris aka Anguadia Peter, 50, Cpl John Ojokuna Elatu, 40, Cpl Ronald Keuber, 52, Cpl David Olal, 46 and Cpl Moses Anyang, 27.

Others are; Pastoress Judith Angwech, 52, Pastor Simon Oyoma, 49, a social worker Daniel Owitti alias Ott alias ODM, 45, a builder Fabio Ocen, 42, 72-year-old peasant Muhammed ljosiga and 64-year-old marketeer Stanley Yiacia alias Simple.

Other suspects are 54-year-old teacher Anthony Kamau Omach, 33-year-old electrician Joaquin Parmu, 42-year-old security guard Abdul Oruku Hakim Koloboka, 65-year-old mechanic Habibu Ezale, 63-year-old pesant Sebbi Keppo, 43-year-old carpenter Siraj Chandiga, 58-year-old plumber Joseph Okwai and 52-year-old peasant Swadik Kujo.

They were arraigned in court alongside Abdumalik Ochan alias Peter, 73, a peasant; Michael Opecha alias Simple Michael, 41, a builder; Tom Owoths Apavuson, 39, a property dealer; Stephen Eteu, 35, a peasant; Lamex Oguma alias Pastor, 38, a pastor: Wilson Ochen alias Senior alias RDC, 58, policeman/businessman, Swaib Edema, 52, peasant, Ida Kasim 57 and Asuman Ratib Buga, 47, a peasant.

The state says between February 2022 and October 2023 within and outside Uganda in diverse places of Lira, Masaka, Arua, Kamala cities, Bidi Bidi camp in Yumbe District and Juba City in South Sudan, the group held meetings, recruited and formed a rebel group called Uganda Lord’s Salvation Army engaged in war or war-like activities intending to overthrow the government of Uganda.

It is further alleged that on October 12, 2023 in Ojwina Quarters Lira City West Division in Lira City, the group was found in unlawful possession of an SMG S/NO. ZASTAUAKRA-GUJEVAC-YUGOSLAVIA without holding a valid firearm certificate, the said weapon ordinarily being a monopoly of the defence forces and a magazine containing 21 rounds of live ammunition.

comments

amah peter:
And suffer in prison. Jesus bore our punishment so that we will be set free. When you come to Him, they will be nothing like Hell fire any more. Come now and save your life. God bless you Brother Ahmed as you make this wise decision. Amen!

amah peter
Often times when Jesus has spoken in parable his disciples will meet him quietly for an understanding of the parable. That is what u Ahmed need to do. Don’t allow carnal things such as poopoo, God meeting a woman to deliver etc to blind your eyes just as the Jews carnally rejecting the Messiah bc they see him as the carpenter’s son. Come to him and be saved from the impending danger.

amah peter:
My dear Ahmed, I see you wondering in the wilderness of faith and believe. Sir Spiritual things are of Spiritual decent and not viewed carnally. And viewed Spiritually and a carnally. A carnal man can not understand them. That is the reason the Bible is written in parables so that they will hear and not understand, see and not perceive. To understand it demands total repentance a “U” turn of life. Then c…..

livingstone mulamu:
These are signs of declining Museveni empire.

Mukarrab Ahmad both Mukarrab Ahmad:
Christianity is still struggling with who really jesus is, with varying belleves. Some say he is God who came to world, poopooed, urinated, ate drank, slept, had wet dreams, among others thereby giving humanistic features to divinity.Others say he is the son of God thereby ascribing children to divinity, Some also believe he is part of the 3 god head, thereby declaring multiple go… View all

Tunde Dasilva:
like the way Muhammed thought all Muslims the way they should be killing the innocent because when he was preaching and killing

CYRIL AFIABOH:
like Mohammed which said a black stone takes away your sins but kill the people who also use the black stone and call them idle worshipping. let me tell you if we are to talk about some surah, you will hate Islam. Let every one practice their religion in peace. Don’t be an hypocrite. Digging deep into other peoples religion is why we have Da…

Mukarrab Ahmad:
Reply to CYRIL AFIABOH Am only preaching. We are not fighting.lt is not right to fight as children of Abraham.Isaac n Ishmael never fought each other. Anyway welcome to my debate platform. The black stone is a stone dropped from paradise, hence, the reverence.We don’t, bow, pray or worship it. It is not the the same as bowing, praying, a…

EBUKA HARRISON:
tinubu should have just handover to the rightful owner the mandate before big thing spoil in Nigeria because he’s not a president.

livingstone mulamu:
Tinubu is a merchant and fail to understand how he became president of such a great nation of Nigeria. Please replace him with Jay Jay Okocha,

Alexander Obi:
The only thing that can stop coup in Africa is good Governance. No intimidation will stop it. Is only respecting the masses mandate will stop coup in Africa. God bless Nigeria.

PHILEMON UAE:
Coup will not take place in Jesus name

Olarinde Anthony:
d pastor’s asigned work failed, he was engaged to pray for d success of d coup, He has seen himself as an enemy of his country now.