State claims FDC mobiliser Justin Juuko was recruiting rebels ahead of 2021 presidential election

The Ugandan state has charged main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) mobiliser and boxing champion Justin Juuko with treachery, unlawful possession of fire arms and recruiting rebels.

Juuko, the FDC Greater Masaka coordinator, had been missing since December 12 but the state confirmed it had him.

FDC deputy secretary general for administration Harold Kaija had petitioned the High Court in Kampala to compel the state to produce Juuko dead or alive.

His co-accused Garlypo Mayanja had been released from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Kireka.

Juuko and Mayanja had been picked from Kyazanga where they were training the party’s polling agents.

When the state came to the High Court on December 28, it confirmed remanding Juuko at an undisclosed detention facility.

The Attorney General’s office told High Court’s Justice Musa Sekaana that the Court Martial’s Unit Disciplinary Committee (UDC) had charged Juuko and remanded him.

He faces treachery and unlawful possession of fire arms charges.

According to prosecution, Juuko, 48, and a resident of Nabbingo in Wakiso District, was involved in the training and mobilisation of youth groups from Kyengera, Kamengo, Lukaya, Masaka, Kyabakuza and Lyantonde to engage in illegal acts.

That Juuko was found training these young people in martial arts, use of small arms like pistols, catapults.

Prosecution further alleged that these skills and weapons would be used to harm Ugandans after mid next month’s elections.

On charges of unlawful possession of fire arms, the state alleges that Juuko had with him a numberless Star Pistol with seven rounds of ammunition.

That it was these he was using to train FDC members to cause chaos after the January 14 elections.

The state argues that the pistol and arms as were reportedly found with Juuko are a monopoly of the armed forces.