Court has set December 3 to determine the fate of bail application by former commander of the Uganda contingent in Somalia, Brig Michael Ondoga and two other officers. The soldiers were remanded are over alleged failure to perform their duties and theft of food in connection with the operations at the Amisom.

Brig Ondoga, Lt Col Sam Kirya, a former information officer at the mission and former logistics officer, Capt Joy Atugonza, appeared before the Makindye-based General Court Martial (GCM) chaired by Brig Moses Ddiba Ssentongo where they applied for bail.

However, the court further remanded the trio until next month for ruling upon hearing submissions from the accused persons through their lawyers that bail is a human right and that they are still suspects until proved otherwise.

This is the third time the trio was remanded since they were charged before court

Court heard that Brig Ondoga is suffering from diabetes and wants temporary relief to be able to undergo treatment from Kenyan capital Nairobi while Capt Atugonza is asthmatic, whose condition cannot be managed while in prison.

However, prosecution asked court to deny the accused persons bail for fear that they would interfere with the investigations.

Prosecution alleges that in October, while aware of an impending advance operation from Afgooye-Baidoa, which required 1,500 troops, Brig Ondoga committed 1,000 troops, which resulted into loss of life among other charges.

musisif@ug.nationmedia.com

Source: Daily Monitor