Former Ugandan Police Officers Cleared in Extradition Case

Summary:

• The General Court Martial in Makindye dismissed charges against former Uganda Police Force Director of Crime Intelligence, Col Ndahura Atwooki, and other senior officers accused of illegal extradition of Rwandan refugees and failure to protect war materials.

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The General Court Martial convened in Makindye has dismissed the case against former Uganda Police Force Director of Crime Intelligence, Col Ndahura Atwooki, and other senior officers accused of illegally extraditing Rwandan refugees and failing to protect war materials.

Among the implicated officers were ACP Herbert Muhangi, the former Flying Squad Commander, and SSP Nickson Agasiirwe, the former Commander of the Special Operations Unit.

The charges, which included failure to protect war materials, failure to supervise police officers, and abetting kidnapping, were dismissed on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, by the Army Court presided over by Brig Gen Freeman Robert Mugabe.

Col Ndahura was apprehended on June 8, 2018, in Masindi, in connection with the illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees. He was jointly charged with the former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, and other junior officers.

The prosecution alleged that between 2012 and 2016, through acts of omission and commission, the accused facilitated subordinate police officers and others in kidnapping and illegally repatriating Rwandan exiles, refugees, and Ugandan citizens to Rwanda, including Lt Joel Mutabazi, Jackson Karemera, and Sgt Innocent Karisa.

Additionally, they were charged with failure to protect war materials, as per Section 122(1)(2)(d) of the UPDF Act 2005.

The state also claimed that between 2010 and 2018, the accused officers allowed arms and ammunition to be issued to unauthorized individuals, including members of Boda Boda 2010, led by Abdullah Kitatta.

Furthermore, they were accused of neglecting to supervise and ensure accountability for the arms and ammunition issued to specialized units under the Inspector General of Police’s office, including the Flying Squad, Special Operations Unit, Witness Protection Unit, and Crime Intelligence Directorate.

These officers are the latest to be cleared by the Court Martial, following the withdrawal of all criminal charges against former IGP Gen Kayihura in August 2023, after which he was permitted to retire from the Army.

Kayihura appeared before the UPDF General Court Martial on August 24, 2018, to plead to the charges before a seven-member panel presided over by then-chairman Lt Gen Andrew Gutti. He had been previously arrested at his upcountry home in Kashagama, Lyantonde district, before being airlifted to Kampala.

With inputs from other Agencies