Prisons boss summoned over mistreatment of Kasese suspects

Jinja Chief Magistrates court has summoned the commissioner general of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija to answer queries of mistreatment of inmates at Luzira Maximum prison and failure to take suspects to hospitals for treament.

During the mention of the case of Rwenzuru king Charles Wesley Mumbere and other suspects in Kasese clashes, chief magistrate John Francis Kaggwa heard that some of the suspects, arrested after the November 27, 2016 attacks, have never appeared before court because they were under treatment.

Court was told that suspects were being treated from Bombo Military hospital under the supervision of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF).

Now court wants Dr Byabashaija to explain under what circumstances the five suspects were transferred from other hospitals such as Mulago and Butabika to a military hospital.

Samson Muyizzi, one of the lawyers for Mumbere and his guards told court that some of the suspects especially the elderly, women, the juveniles and the sick were not accorded the desired medical attention as requested by court.

Muyizzi noted that one of the suspects is mentally ill and therefore requires treatment from Butabika Mental referral hospital.

Kaggwa set February 20 for Byabashaija to show up in court to answer to claims leveled against the Uganda Prisons Service. Mumbere and his guards are charged with 41 counts of treason, terrorism, murder, attempted murder and aggravated robbery.

Under the charge of treason, the Rwenzururu king, his guards and others still at large, between the month of March and November 2016 in different places within Kasese and Kabarole districts, planned to overthrow a lawfully established government by force of arms.

According to prosecution, the accused expressed such plot by utterances and overt acts such as attack on various police establishments, killing police officers, robbing arms and ammunition and recruitment of individuals to join an armed insurrection against the government.