The embattled jailed Abdallah Kitatta has now admitted to being a member of Boda Boda 2010 after initially telling General Court Martial that he did not know about the vigilante outfit.
Kitatta the patron of Boda Boda 2010 is accused of unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and military, told the Army court in Makindye on January 7, 2019 that he has never been a a member or leader of the infamous Boda Boda 2010 outfit.
He then claimed he only belonged to two offices - being the ruling party chairperson of Lubaga division and National Union of Drivers and cyclists and Allied workers Association (NUDICAWA). He also said that for the 40 years that he lived on earth so far, he has never held a gun, bullets or possessed any military uniforms.
However when the defence trial resumed yesterday, Kitatta said he indeed was the patron of the Boda Boda 2010 claiming he was confused as to what the titles, chairman and patron mean because he is a primary three dropout. Kitatta said being a primary three dropout, he thought that patron and chairman mean different things.
“I have never denied being patron of Boda Boda 2010, but I insist I’m not a chairman or member of Boda Boda 2010. I was just chosen as a patron but was never elected as the chairman. Being chosen as patron, I thought I was chosen to be a linkage between the ruling party and Boda Boda 2010.” Kitatta said in Luganda.
He also admitted to attending MchakaMchaka (a light military training) but said he was never trained in firing firearms. Further, Kitatta claimed ignorance of his date of birth, saying he was born around 1978 or 1979. He also said he couldn’t remember the year that he went to school - blaming the ’corrupted memory” on the long period that he has been in detention.
Kitatta, who has now spent one year in jail since he was arrested in January 2018 with over 27 others, momentarily lost his cool in court, saying he is a “big and prominent person” in the country and therefore is not obliged to answer each and every question asked.
Court rejected Kitatta’s evidence to prove that he belongs to NUDICAWA when he presented tenancy receipts. However court rejected the evidence after he presented December 2018 rent payment receipts yet during this time he was in jail.
During the testimony of Joel Kibirige, the chairperson of Rubaga Division Bodaboda Cyclists and Kitatta's police guard Sowali Ngobi, court heard that Kitatta doesn't own any illegal guns.
The duo was testifying as defense witnesses in the General Court Martial chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Guti. They are jointly charged with Kitatta and others for illegal possession firearms. They were found in possession of 55 rounds of live ammunition, a gold-platted pistol and sub machine gun (SMG).
Ngobi told court that on January 20, 2018 when they were arrested, they first had a meeting with the former inspector general of police, Gen Kale Kayihura before traveling to Nabbingo where Kitatta was visiting his jailed brother, Huzairu Kiwalabye. He says they returned to Kampala and Kitatta informed him that he was going to have lunch at Vine hotel in Wakaliga where he would also meet some people he didn't disclose.
According to Ngobi, Kitatta directed him to find some cheaper place to eat from since he couldn't afford the cost of food at Vine hotel. Ngobi explained that he received a phone call after walking for about 90 meters that the army had sealed off Vine hotel where he had left Kitatta.
According to Ngobi, he rushed back to the hotel but was asked the by soldiers to identify himself. Ngobi says he pulled out his police warrant card but the soldiers tried to tear it and ordered him to raise his hands in the air. The officers searched him and recovered his black pistol. Ngobi explained that he later surrendered his SMG rifle and was handcuffed and placed under arrest for unknown detention.
He says the soldiers covered his face and drove him to unknown place where he was locked up until when he appeared in court a month later. State prosecution led by Maj Raphael Mugisha asked Ngobi to explain how he secured the firearms.
Ngobi said he was first assigned the firearms by Siraje Bakaleke in February 2012 during his tenure as commander of Old Kampala police station. He reportedly deployed him to guard Kitatta who had approached police for protection.
He however, told court that the firearms that were displayed in the military court as exhibits weren't the ones he got from the Old Kampala police armoury. Ngobi told court that on December 11, 2014 he returned the firearms to Old Kampala police station when he was transferred.
He explains that he was later redeployed by Nixon Agasirwe, the jailed former commander of the special operations to guard Kitatta. Ngobi revealed that Agasirwe armed him with a black pistol, SMG, pepper sprays and teargas because he was to guard a high profile person.
The 38-year-old officer who has served in the force since 2006 further told court that most of the exhibits he was found with including, two mobile phones, tear gas and pepper sprays were never presented in court. He told court that the items recovered during their arrest belonged to him and Allan Matsiko who was away on sick leave. Ngobi's testimony was collaborated by Joel Kibirige.
However, court couldn't proceed with his testimony because it was late by the time he took to the stand. Despite the fact that Lt Gen Guti wanted to continue with the court session, prison warders raised objection, saying they can't check in past 6pm.
As a result, Gen Guti adjourned court to until February, 11 for further hearing. The other suspects in the court are Fred Bwanika, Amon Twinomujuni, John Sebandeke, Hassan Ssebatta, Matia Senfuka and Hussein Mugema.