The Court Martial yesterday released retired army soldier Capt. Amon Byarugaba from Kigo prison after serving his sentence for six months.
Byarugaba who was arrested in 2003 for allegedly being a rebel under the disputed Peoples’ Redemption Army (PRA) outfit was remanded to Makindye army barracks until last year when his son demanded that his father be produced in a court or be released for being held on remand for 12 years without sentence.
The army subsequently took him to Court Martial where a ruling was given and was sentenced for 12 months. He however, appealed against the ruling and the same court reduced his jail sentence from 12 months to six months which he had already served.
He had been earlier handed a one year jail sentence by General Court Martial chairman, Maj. Gen. Levy Karuhanga of the lower General court martial.
The Makindye based Court Martial in March this year found Byarugaba guilty and convicted him to one year jail sentence for his participation in rebel activities in Ituri forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He had earlier spent twelve years in prison having been arrested in 2003 on allegation of involving himself in rebel activities.
The Army Spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda confirmed the release in a social media post. “Capt. Amon Byarugaba’s sentence has been eased by the UPDF appeal court from one year to six months,” posted Ankunda on twitter.
Byarugaba was arrested together with 22 others in the DRC’S Ituri forest for allegedly organising a rebellion to dislodge the elected government of President Yoweri Museveni by use of fire arms.
The prosecution claimed that he was arrested while participating in the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group which was said to be operating in the DRC with the aim of overthrowing the Ugandan government under Yoweri Museveni.
The shadowy rebel group was also linked to Forum for Democratic change (FDC) former party President Dr Kiiza Besigye who was also charged with treason and terrorism jailed, in Luzira prison but later set free by court.
