Jailed bird Abdullah Kitatta, the former patron of Boda Boda 2010 who is facing charges of illegal possession firearms with his body guard and Fred Bwanika, Amon Twinomujuni, John Sebandeke, Hassan Ssebatta, Matia Senfuka and Hussein Mugema.
On Monday breathed fresh air when his guard told court, the gun recovered at the scene during the arrest was his.
Kitatta's police guard, Sowali Ngobi told the General Court martial that his boss has never owned an illegal fire arm, but rather, that the black pistoland an SMG rifle recovered at Vine Hotel Wakaliga were all his.
Ngobi along with Joel Kibirige, the Chairperson of Rubaga Division Boda Boda Cyclists testified as defense witnesses in the General Court martial chaired by Lt General Andrew Gutti.
At the scene of arrest, Kittata was allegedly found with a gold courted pistol, while his police guard had a Sub Machine Gun (SMG) and 55 rounds of live ammunition.
However, the guard argued in court that on the fateful day of January, 20th, 2018, the duo held a meeting with the former Inspector General of Police, also facing a series of charges in the army Court, Gen. Kale Kayihura and later travelled to Nabingo where Kitatta was visiting his jailed brother, Huzairu Kiwalabye.
But, on their return to Kampala, Kitatta told Ngobi he would have lunch at Vine Hotel Wakaliga where he would also meet some people he didn't disclose. The prime suspect also directed his body guard top proceed to any local restaurant for a cheaper lunch as his boss couldn't afford the cost of food at Vine Hotel. This, was interpreted by many as a move by Kitatta to get rid of his guard in order to meet the unknown people without witnesses.
The guard in his testimony added that no sooner had he stepped away from Kitatta’s presence than he received a phone that the army had sealed off Vine Hotel where he had left Kitatta. However, by the time he made it back, it was too late to save his boss as the soldiers had nabbed him.
When asked by the soldiers to identify himself, Ngobi says he pulled out his Police warrant card which they (soldiers) tried to tear before ordering him to raise his hands in the air, searched him and recovered his black pistol. He would later surrender his SMG rifle, was handcuffed and placed under arrest for unknown detention.
According to Ngobi, soldiers covered his face and drove him to unknown place where he was locked up until when he appeared in court a month later.
Major Raphael Mugisha, State Prosecuter asked Ngobi to explain how he secured the firearms.
In his explanation, Ngobi said he was first assigned the firearms by former police officer Siraje Bakaleke in February 2012 during his tenure as Commander of Old Kampala Police Station. The officer who is currently on the run reportedly deployed him to guard Kitatta who had approached police for protection.
The witness told court that the firearms which arresting officers displayed in the military court as exhibits weren't the ones he got from the Old Kampala Police Armory. On December 11th 2014, Ngobi returned the firearms to Old Kampala Police station when he was transferred.
He would later be redeployed by Nixon Agasirwe, the jailed former commander of the Special Operations to guard Kitatta. Agasirwe armed him with a black pistol, SMG, pepper sprays and teargas because he was to guard a high-profile person.
Ngobi told court he is 38 years old and has served in the force since 2006 further. He added that most of the exhibits he was found with including, two mobile phones, tears gas and pepper sprays were never presented in court and that they belonged to him and Allan Matsiko who was away on sick leave. His testimony was collaborated by Joel Kibirige.
Court couldn't proceed with his testimony since he took to the stand late prison warders raised objection, saying they can't check in past 6pm, despite the fact that Lt, General Andrew Gutti wanted to continue with the court session.
Gen. Gutti adjourned court until February, 11th, 2019 for further hearing.