Uganda Grants Amnesty to Last Rebel Suspects in Detention

Five men who were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003 and accused of attempting to overthrow the government of Uganda have been granted amnesty, according to the chairman of the Uganda Amnesty Commission Peter Onega in Kampala on Saturday.

Abbey Bashemererwa, Okello Dagama, Made Akollo, Yasin Nuru and Cosmas Kumakech were arrested at the Aboro Hills in the Ituri Region of the DRC. They were accused of being part of the shadowy rebel group, the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) and together with opposition leader Kizza Besigye, were accused of treason and terrorism.

Proceedings against the suspects at the army court martial were suspended in January last year after the Court of Appeal declared the trial unlawful.

For the past five years, the suspects served time at the Makindye military police barracks in Kampala. Last year, they applied for amnesty from the government and last Thursday, the army Court Martial cleared them to be released.

This is the last group of 22 PRA suspects to be released from military detention. Three of them - Dennis Nabileba, Moses Dramani and David Oboma - died in detention at the Makindye military police barracks, with the circumstances surrounding their death never made public.

Source African Press Agency

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