Former Boda Boda 2010 Association patron Abdallah Kitatta has been released from jail, the Uganda Prisons Services has confirmed.
Frank Baine, the spokesperson of Uganda Prisons said that Kitatta and his bodyguard, Ngobi Sowali should have left prison on July 7, 2020, in line with a punishment reduction given to them yesterday by the Court Martial Appeals Court.
Frank Baine, the spokesperson of Uganda Prisons said that Kitatta and his bodyguard, Ngobi Sowali should have left prison on July 7, 2020, in line with a punishment reduction given to them yesterday by the Court Martial Appeals Court.
The Boda Boda 2010 outfit became infamous for the torture and blatant abuse of the law against of boda boda riders and perceived political opponents including beating up school children and teachers en route to a musical concert for wearing red outfits similar in colour to those won by People Power movement led by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyia aka Bobi Wine.
On Friday, the Appellant Court Martial chaired by Elly Turyamubona reduced Kitatta and Ngobi's ten-year jail sentence to three years and deducted the time they had already spent in custody. Turyamubona noted that instead, the duo should have been sentenced to serve one year, eight months and six days starting from the day they were convicted in May 2019.
Baine said on the phone that after subjecting Kitatta and his bodyguard to remission, they calculated and found that they should have left jail on July 7.
"I can confirm to you that Kitatta is a free man. He has been freed together with his bodyguard at around 4:30 pm," Baine said. Kitatta's lawyer Abdullah Kiwanuka also confirmed that his client had been freed and that he was currently at his home in Najjanankumbi.
In May 2019, the General Court Martial chaired by Lt General Andrew Gutti found Kitatta and his bodyguard Ngobi guilty of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. They were sentenced to a maximum sentence of ten years for each of the offences but they were to run concurrently. At the time of sentencing, they were left with a sentence of eight years and eight months.
However, the duo who had previously been charged with ten others, whom, court acquitted for lack of evidence through their lawyers Isaac Jjuko and Abdullah Kiwanuka, challenged the sentence in the Court Martial Appeal court.
They argued that the sentences given to them were harsh and excessive and indeed, the appellate court agreed with them and reduced the sentence to three years including the time they had spent on remand, claiming that they had not used the guns they were found in possession with to commit any crime or engage in criminal activities.
Kitatta and Ngobi were arrested from Rubaga in Kampala division in January 2018 and remanded to Makindye Military Barracks for more than a year before they were sent to Luzira prison to serve their sentences.
On Friday, the Appellant Court Martial chaired by Elly Turyamubona reduced Kitatta and Ngobi's ten-year jail sentence to three years and deducted the time they had already spent in custody. Turyamubona noted that instead, the duo should have been sentenced to serve one year, eight months and six days starting from the day they were convicted in May 2019.
Baine said on the phone that after subjecting Kitatta and his bodyguard to remission, they calculated and found that they should have left jail on July 7.
"I can confirm to you that Kitatta is a free man. He has been freed together with his bodyguard at around 4:30 pm," Baine said. Kitatta's lawyer Abdullah Kiwanuka also confirmed that his client had been freed and that he was currently at his home in Najjanankumbi.
In May 2019, the General Court Martial chaired by Lt General Andrew Gutti found Kitatta and his bodyguard Ngobi guilty of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. They were sentenced to a maximum sentence of ten years for each of the offences but they were to run concurrently. At the time of sentencing, they were left with a sentence of eight years and eight months.
However, the duo who had previously been charged with ten others, whom, court acquitted for lack of evidence through their lawyers Isaac Jjuko and Abdullah Kiwanuka, challenged the sentence in the Court Martial Appeal court.
They argued that the sentences given to them were harsh and excessive and indeed, the appellate court agreed with them and reduced the sentence to three years including the time they had spent on remand, claiming that they had not used the guns they were found in possession with to commit any crime or engage in criminal activities.
Kitatta and Ngobi were arrested from Rubaga in Kampala division in January 2018 and remanded to Makindye Military Barracks for more than a year before they were sent to Luzira prison to serve their sentences.