Mukono Magistrate’s Court has extended Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza’s criminal summons to April 23.
The Ugandan Ambassador to Burundi was last week summoned to appear before the court on April 10, but did not show up, his lawyer Caleb Alaka arguing that his client ‘was not ready since he never received the summons’.
Gen. Kyaligonza and his two bodyguards are accused of assaulting and causing harm to a female traffic officer, Sgt Esther Namaganda.
According to prosecution, Kyaligonza assaulted Sgt Namaganda on February 24, 2019, at Seeta Trading Centre in Mukono District. The three are also accused of obstructing a police officer in the due execution of duty contrary to section 238(b) of the penal code act.
“My lady, the two guards; RA/221607 L/CPL Bushindiki Peter and RA/230927 Okurut John Robert are already in the hands of the General Court Martial and their cases are yet to read, however, Gen Kyaligonza was not ready because he learnt about his summons in the press,” Alaka told presiding Chief magistrate Juliet Hatanga.
When Hatanga asked him why he came on the right date as stated in the summon letter, Alaka said the General had sent him to cross check whether what he read in newspapers was true.
However, Alaka’s claims were rejected by the state prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya who said all the three suspects were served with court summons including their lawyers.
Muwaganya also confirmed to Hatanga that Bushindiki and Okurut are in Military custody at Makindye barracks and is working with Ministry of Defence to see they are produced before the Makindye court.
Following the uncoordinated statements by Alaka, Hatanga decided to extend Kyaligonza’s criminal summons.
Namaganda’s lawyer Michael Kaboneka said he was happy that the case has commenced.
“I’m extremely happy to see that court has started perusing on this case and we are looking forward to seeing that we get justice,” said Kaboneka.
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