The case in which independent presidential candidate, Henry Tumukunde is accused of treason has been adjourned to January 21st 2021, after the Presidential elections.
Valerian Tumuhimbise the City hall Grade One Senior Magistrate adjourned the case after prosecution failed to file written submissions as directed by the court last month.
Court was on Monday expected to decide on whether or not to commit Tumukunde to High Court for the treason case and rule on his application on human rights violations. Earlier on, Court had asked prosecution and the defence to submit written submissions in the cases of treason and illegal possession of firearms brought against the former spy chief and security minister.
According to prosecution the accused while appearing on NBS TV in March this year, said: “If I was Rwanda, I would support people who wish to foster change in Uganda.”
This to the government, is a call on Rwanda to invade Uganda and cause an unlawful change of government. Prosecution also alleges that Tumukunde was found in possession of a none licensed Star pistol and AK 47 rifle during a cordon and search operation at his private residence in Kololo on March 13th, 2020.
However, the defence team says Tumukunde's personal liberty, right to a doctor and freedom from torture were violated when he was arrested and that he was kept for six days and only produced in court after they secured his production warrant, adding that he was psychologically tortured when he was placed in solitary confinement and denied access to a doctor. They want the human rights violations case heard before the cases against his client proceed.
On Monday morning however, prosecution told the court that they were unable to file submissions in the treason and human violation cases as directed and sought an adjournment. The magistrate has given prosecution until January 7th 2021 to file and serve the defence with written submissions to allow the defence to put in a rejoinder by January 13th, 2021.
