Kampala, Uganda. The long-standing legal battle surrounding the alleged abduction and illegal extradition of Rwandan refugees has reached its conclusion.
The State Prosecution has taken an unexpected decision to drop charges against seven high-ranking officers, including individuals with ties to Rwanda.
The group was apprehended by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence in October 2017 and has been battling the case until March 5, 2024, when the state chose not to proceed with the case for unknown reasons.
The charges stemmed from accusations of orchestrating the unlawful repatriation of refugees, notably Lt Joel Mutabazi, back to Rwanda. As the legal proceedings unfolded, the case gathered attention for its complex details and geopolitical implications.
On Tuesday, Colonel Atwooki Ndahura, the former director of Police Crime Intelligence, along with six fellow police officers including former Flying Squad Unit Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Herbert Muhangi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Richard Ndaboine, SSP Nixon Agasirwe, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Patrick Muramira, Assistant Inspector of Police Jonas Ayebaza and Detective Constable Kitagenda Muyomba.
According to Brigadier General Freeman Mugabe, Chairman of the General Court Martial, the seven officers were freed after military prosecutors submitted a nolle prosequi, indicating the decision not to proceed with the prosecution.
Former Inspector General of Police -General Kale Kayihura, who was later added to the same charge sheet, was released on bail shortly after appearing in court, while others endured more than four years in remand.
The officers were subsequently released on bail but restricted from travelling beyond Kampala City and Wakiso District without court approval. Gen. Kayihura had his charges dropped last year (2023) and retired from the army the following day.
The officers expressed gratitude to the state for dropping the charges acknowledging the weight of facing criminal charges against the state.
They further pledged to adhere to legal requirements by promptly reporting back to their employers and updating them on the court case’s resolution.
Throughout the six years of legal battles, all these officers were under interdiction within their respective agencies, receiving only half of their regular pay.
With the charges dropped, this signifies a crucial development as they can now anticipate the release of the withheld fraction, marking the end of a prolonged period of financial uncertainty tied to their legal challenges.
END
English 