Pte Innocent Kaliisa, a Rwandan fugitive soldier who in August this year went missing in Uganda, has surfaced at the trial of another renegade combatant, Lt Joel Mutabazi.

Lt Mutabazi facing the military tribunal at Namirambo on Monday

Lt Mutabazi facing the military tribunal at Nyamirambo on Monday

The two soldiers were living in Uganda after escaping from Rwanda before they landed in the hands of authorities in Kigali late this year.

Kaliisa pleaded guilty to one count of spreading rumours with an intention to incite the public to rise up against the State but denied charges of forming an armed group and contempt against the Head of State.

Proceedings in the pre-trial detention of Mutabazi and 17 co-accused were held on Monday at the Military Tribunal, Nyamirambo.

They are suspected to have committed crimes causing state insecurity, terrorism, creation of a criminal organisation, illegal possession of arms, desertion and forgery document among others.

“I plead not guilty to all the charges,” said Mutabazi.

After reading the suspects’ counts and hearing all parties, prosecution led by Maj. Pacifique Kabanda asked the Military tribunal to continue the case in closed door (in camera) for security reasons, a request that was granted.

 

The proceedings attracted eminent personalities and Diplomats in Rwanda including UK High Commissioner in Rwanda Benedict Llewellyn-Jones OBE, Lt Col Gwyn A. Carver, the Defence attaché at the US Embassy, Erik Van Oudheusden, Second Secretary Political Affairs at Dutch Embassy in Rwanda, media and other members of the civil society.

Source: Chimpreports