Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe appointed new Court Martial boss

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Brigadier General Robert Freeman Mugabe is the new chairperson of the Makindye-based Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF General Court Martial following his appointment by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He replaces Lt. General Andrew Gutti whose term of office expired on June 9th, 2022, and is headed for retirement at the end of the year.

Promoted in April 2021 from Colonel to Brigadier, Mugabe is currently the adjutant general, headquarters Bombo where he has been since 2020. He also served as the Air Defense Division Administrative Officer and Division Operations & Training Officer in the same unit prior to his appointment as Adjutant General.

In a July 12th, 2022 message seen by URN, Museveni also appointed 24 other members of the Court Martial and renewed the contracts of four members who were under Gutti’s leadership. The other members are Col. Joseph Ecelare Okalebo, Lt. Col. Sam Ntungura, Major Angella Catherine Laker, Captain Lucy Nicole Etoroi, Captain Abdu Basajjabala, and Warrant Officer One, Oyar Boris Mark.

Those on reserve are Brigadier General Ronald Solomon Bigirwa, Col Benard Tumwesigyire, Col. David Emmanuel Muhanguzi, Col. David Ociti Kidega, Lt. Col. Patrick Matovu, Lt. Col. Sebastian Bossa, Lt. Col. David Baguma, Major Stephen Etumidde, Major Cyprian Sande Magezi, Major Jubilee Omax Denis, Captain Grace Mbabazi, Captain Christine Sayuni and Warrant Officer 1 Robert Nyarare.

Those maintained from the old team include Col. John Bizimana, who returns as the Secretary/Registrar to the General Court Martial whereas Lt. Col. Raphael Mugisha and Captain Ambroz Guma have been maintained as Prosecutors and Kamanda Silas Mutungi as Defense Counsel. Also maintained in his position is Col. Richard Tukacungurwa as the Judge Advocate.

“The president and Commander in Chief of the UPDF approved and duly signed the appointment and convening orders of the new court-martial members and its reserves and the message was recorded in our military messages Tuesday 12th July 2022”, a source told Uganda Radio Network.

It’s not yet known when the new team will take over the office and resume business at the court-martial where works had stalled for more than a month. But sources say that it will require most of those appointed to first hand over the offices they are currently occupying before taking over new offices.

It is also the first time that the President has dropped more than 50 percent of the old members of the court and replaced them with new ones.

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URN