Court martialed NUP supporters’ case flops as state alleges intimidation of witnesses

The trial of the Court martialed National Unity Platform party supporters has flopped.

On Tuesday, the Prosecution led by Lt. Gift Mubahamwe told the military court presided over by Brigadier General Robert Freeman Mugabe that some of their witnesses are sensitive and need to be protected from the bully and provocative NUP supporters.

In a closed circuit trial devoid of media, the army attorney objected to a prayer for bail of the suspects alleging that some of the key witnesses have been facing cyber bullying and intimidation which places their lives in danger.

The state availed a social media print out of one of the CMI operatives who man drone operations, a one Capt. Tyaba Alex whose identity was published online and exposed his life to danger.

“Your worship, my witnesses need protection. They are in danger and living under fear,” Lt. Gift Muhabamwe told court. “Some NUP supporters have exposed the lives of my witnesses to danger. They have made multiple social media publications that reveal the identities of our witnesses. I think this will compromise the case in case these people are given bail,” he added as he objected the bail application of the suspects.

The jailed 32 NUP supporters have been on remand since their arrest in April 2021. They are accused with possession of Military stores under the 2005 UPDF Act section 119. Important to note is that the constitutional court last year nullified this particular section and ordered the court martial to refer all the cases pressed on civilians back to the High Court which is legally empowered with the jurisdiction on ordinary non combatant civilians.