UPDF Submits Names of New Court Martial Panel to JSC for Approval

The names of the panel that will reconstitute the General Court Martial (GCM) have been submitted to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). This is according to Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, the Defence Public Information Officer (DPIO).

The GCM has been inactive since the Supreme Court ruling of January 31, which prohibited the trial of civilians, including military personnel facing capital offences, unless its composition includes persons fit to serve in courts of judicature and approved by the JSC.

UPDF’s High Command, chaired by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi, has appointed 21 members to reconstitute the GCM, and they will be led by Brig Gen Richard Tukachungura as its chairman.

Maj Gen Kulayigye said the names of military personnel who will reconstitute the GCM panel in order to resume operation have already been submitted to JSC and Commander in Chief of the armed forces, President Yoweri Museveni.

Maj Gen Kulayigye was responding to the question of when GCM panel will be reconstituted to try both senior and junior soldiers who have been languishing in military cells without trial for months since the Supreme Court ruling.

“We have submitted the names of the members who will reconstitute the GCM panel to the Judicial Service Commission and Commander in Chief. Once these names have been approved, GCM will resume its operations,” Maj Gen Kulayigye said.

Some of the appointed GCM panel members, other than Brig Gen Tukachungura, include Col Raphael Mugisha, who will serve as judge advocate, Col Silas Kamanda Mutungi, who will serve as defence lawyer, Col Fred Kangwamu and Col Aisha Patra, who will serve as lead prosecutors.

Some of the senior military officers whose trials have been pending because of the Supreme Court ruling include Col Patrick Ssemakula, who allegedly exchanged military intelligence for $300,000 with a SADC member state.

Col Peter Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga are all accused of concocting terror threats in Kampala. Also waiting to face GCM is Maj Gen James Birungi, who was the commander of Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), facing treason charges because of fake terror bombs linked to Allied Democratic Forces –ADF.