Major Zaake Lukonge Batabeezaala has appeared before the Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF General Court Martial in Makindye for the alleged theft of equipment from military vehicles.
The General court-martial chairperson, Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe read for Major Zaake the charges of personal interest endangering operational efficiency contrary to the UPDF Act.
The military court has heard that on different occasions between April and May 2022, Zaake diverted 66 pieces of tires, 21 batteries for trucks, tow guns, and land cruisers, and acid from the Defense General Depo at MagaMaga in Mayuge district for personal use.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecution led by Lt. Gift Mubehamwe informed the Court that investigations are still ongoing.
As a result, the Court remanded Major Zaake to Makindye Military Police Barracks until October 24th, 2022 when he will return for the mention of his case.
According to the Court records seen by Uganda Radio Network, the Chieftaincy Military Intelligence-CMI investigated a case involving the theft of tires and batteries for the Ground Based Air Defense-GBAD Unit under Uganda People’s Defence Air Forces-UPDF.
It is alleged that Zaake picked the items in question but they did not reach the intended beneficiaries at GBAD. Some of the items were off-loaded at Don fuel station in Nansana Municipality in Wakiso District.
He was subsequently arrested and detained at Makindye Military Police Barracks as investigations went on.
The records further indicate that corruption tendencies have undermined the operational efficiency and effectiveness of GBAD weapon systems.
“For example, heavy trucks Registration numbers DAF 045, DAF 049, and H4DAF 275, which are used for two Air Defense Guns were all grounded during the conduct of investigations. The vehicles had been without tires for more than a year,” reads the report compiled by Major General James Birungi.
It adds that “Military Intelligence is of the opinion that the key suspect and others who will be found culpable, be held accountable and deterrent punishments meted out to stamp out the vice of corruption in the force.” The records also state that Major Zaake was previously implicated in another case of theft of a military Grader while serving in Somalia under AMISOM and was charged with others at the General Court Martial in Makindye but he managed to escape justice.
