On Friday Abdalla Kitatta, along with 12 other men, appeared before the Unit Disciplinary Committee at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence headquarters in Mbuya amidst tight security.
The hearing was closed off to the public and the media. Even some of the defendants’ lawyers were denied access to the proceedings.
Kitatta’s lawyer, Joseph Kiryowa says most of the proceedings did not follow standard procedure with army court even denying the lawyers access to the charge sheet.
The case was eventually referred to the General Court Martial, but it remains uncertain when the Kitatta will appear before the this court because the date for the hearing was not set.
Kiryowa says it is also not clear to which prison Kitatta was remanded because, court told the lawyers that he will be taken to an unspecified government prison.
This comes after the lawyers complained to court that their client was never taken to Kigo as it was claimed by the UPDF shortly after his arrest.
Kitatta himself told court on Friday that he’d been detained at Makindye Military Barracks.
Joseph Kiryowa says though he does not agree with his client being tried by the court Martial, he says at least the Court Martial will give him more room to defend his client.
He also argues that Kitatta should never have appeared before the Unit Disciplinary Committee in the first place.
Kiryowa says he has not heard or gotten information about the arrest of Kitatta’s wife has rumours have been going around.
Kitatta was arrested with his colleagues last month on allegations that they were in possession military material.