KAMPALA – Army court has charged and sent three members and diehard supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) to Kitalya Prison on remand for allegedly wearing red berets which contradicts with the Army law.
The accused;- Fred Nkuruziza, Stephen Sserwanga, and Shafik Wasinde appeared before the General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Andrew Guti on charges of wearing unauthorized uniforms which they denied.
Prosecution alleges that the accused on November 18, 2020, while in the city suburbs of Kampala, were found wearing red berets, resembling one authorised for the members of the Defence Forces.
“When you wear red berets, it leaves other people threatened thinking you are a soldier,” Gen. Gutti told the accused, who appeared individually in the caged court dock.
Meanwhile, Alex Kadyama aka Abdu Nasur was unable to take plea because according to defence lawyer Maj. Kamanda Mutunji, is not mentally stable.
Gen. Gutti advised prosecution led by Maj. Elly Byaruhanga to take the accused to Butabika national referral hospital, for medical treatment.
State Prosecutor Maj. Elly Byaruhanga informed court that the matter is still under investigations and asked court to adjourn the case to another date for mention. Capt. Ambrose Baguma assisted him.
“I pray that court adjourns the case to allow our investigators to complete inquiries in the matter,” he requested.
This prompted the court chairman to adjourn the case to December 22, for mention.
The law
Under the law, any person, who without authority, manufactures, sells, offers or exposes for sale, wears or uses any uniform resembling that of the defence forces, is on conviction liable to imprisonment not exceeding seven years.
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