The General Court Martial at Makindye (GCM), has released former Bubulo West MP Tonny Kipoi after spending 15 months in Luzira and Makindye military prisons.
Kipoi who was given a non-cash bail, was arrested in Botswana over a year ago alongside a one Robert Kitali. Both were extradited to Uganda in March 2018 after reportedly extorting money from people by pretending to be witchdoctors who could solve their problems.
Both men were then handed over Uganda and sent on remand to Luzira prison by Nakawa Grade One magistrate Jameson Karemani.
Through his lawyers led by Ronald Idulo, Kipoi has secured a temporary release contending that he has a home in Bubulo where he can be found whenever he is required by Court.
Kipoi argued that in 2013 the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) signed a formal notice of abandonment in relation to the same offences that are currently against him and that in September 2014 he was released by the High court.
Kipoi said trying him on same facts was illegal and unconstitutional and therefore wants Attorney General, DPP and Commander Defence Forces (CDF) of UPDF to respond over that matter.
Court chairman. Lt Gen. Gutti, did not agree with prosecution led by Lt. Col. Raphael Mugisha, who argued that they had not finalized with internalizing of Kipoi’s bail application.
Maj Ssekayita insisted asking court to temporarily release Kipoi and his co-accused as they await for the response by the prosecution. “We pray the accused be released without sureties because Court has powers to do so,” he said.
Charges
Prosecution sates that between November 2012 and December 2013, while in various districts of Masaka, Jinja, Kampala Uganda, and Kipoi convened meetings to recruit soldiers with the intention of overthrowing government of President Museveni.
In 2013, Kipoi was arrested in Congo and charged with treason however he refuted the claims, saying he had fled the country because of bad governance under Museveni.
Kipoi is charged alongside five UPDF soldiers: Sgt. Yunus Lemeriga, Sgt. Adams Mawa, Sgt. Albino Okenge, Cpl. Rogers Mwiru and Private Ddodola Ijosiga.
