Treason Charges Are Meant to Disrupt My Campaigns – Gen. Tumukunde

Independent Presidential Candidate Rtd Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde has said that the charges of Treason and Illegal Possession of a Gun that are before the High Court are intended to disrupt his election campaigns that had to be cancelled today so that he can attend court.

Tumukunde told journalists at the Kampala City Hall Court this morning that while other presidential candidates are comfortably enjoying their campaigns, for  him he has to divide his time to consult his lawyers on how he is going to get his freedom back from what he describes as trumped up charges because he is a retired soldier who legally has to own a gun.

Tumukunde’s statements come after the Court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Valerian Tumuhimbise first condemned his Lawyers from Wameli and Company Advocates for delaying the gun case from proceeding by failing to prosecute his application challenging Tumukunde’s trial on grounds that he was detained beyond 48 Hours in Police Custody before producing him in a court of law;  which amounted to violation of his right to a fair trial and freedom from torture, inhumane and degrading treatment.

The Magistrate said that Tumukunde’s Lawyers are using the said application to frustrate the hearing of the gun case and he ordered that the Defence and Prosecution file written submissions by 13th January, 2021 and the ruling on whether or not Tumukunde’s constitutional rights were violated during his arrest and detention will be delivered on 21st January, 2021.

Its alleged that on 13th March at his office Impala Avenue in Kololo, Tumukunde was found in illegal possession of 2 guns; an Ak47 and a pistol plus 34 rounds of ammunitions without a valid firearm licence.

Tumukunde was on 18th March, 2020 arraigned in Court after six days of incarceration without access to his Doctor, Lawyer and Family over charges of Unlawful possession of firearms and Treason.

For the treason case, Tumukunde is alleged to have made statements through interviews conducted on Radio and TV stations which seek to promote hatred, violence, encouraging a neighboring country to support him to overthrow the current Government and instigating a mutiny within the armed forces.

He is said to have committed the Treason offence on 5th March, 2020, at NBS Television Kamwokya in Kampala. He has since denied both charges and he  is out on bail.