Boda Boda 2010 patron Abdallah Kitatta has been sent back to Luzira Prison amidst protests from his lawyer, Shaban Sanywa.
Counsel Sanywa said Luzira Prison is a threat to his client because security is not guaranteed and the facility has registered many cases of poisoning.
Last year, Sanywa requested the court-martial to transfer his client from Makindye Military Barracks to any government prison such as Kigo or Luzira.
However, the court martial chairman, Gen. Andrew Gutti then said Kitatta was in the most protected area of Makindye.
He added that since Kitatta had tortured many people and some of whom he tortured are in Luzira, it was safe for him to be detained in the military facility. “He knows what he has done to this world so we are keeping him here for his own safety,” Gen. Gutti last year.
The army however, succumbed to pressure and later on remanded Kitata to Luzira Prison. When the hearing of his case began, Kitatta was transferred from Luzira Prison to Makindye Military Police barracks on the basis that he was being protected.
On Monday, March 25, when Kitatta appeared before the army court at Makindye, the state prosecutor, Capt. Samuel Masereje asked Gen. Gutti to remand Kitatta to Luzira Prison because the threat on his life was no more.
“Kitatta was transferred to Makindye because of an attempt that had been made to end his life while at Luzira in February last year but now it’s safer to remand him to a government prison given the fact that his case is now coming to an end and it no longer poses a threat to his life,” said Capt. Masereje.
Capt. Masereje’s request was opposed by Sanywa who said that Makindye has guaranteed tighter security to his client than Luzira Prison.
“You cannot say that there are no threats in Luzira or Kigo yet rumours about plans to poison my client started from there. The military barracks would be the safest place. If anything happens to my client, it should be noted that I refused the idea of moving him outside the military barracks,” said Sanywa.
However, Gen.Gutti insisted on the argument of Kitatta’s safety.
He said, “Let Kitatta be remanded to Luzira prison, he will be safer there since we are almost nearing the end of his case. I don’t see any threat.”
Gutti emphasized that Kitatta’s remand to Luzira should not be based on any theory another than his protection.
Kitatta will next appear before the court on April 8 for the final submission before judgment is made.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
