Free at last: Gen. Kayihura praises Museveni as Army Court drops all charges

The Makindye-based army court this Wednesday morning dropped all the charges that Kayihura was facing which included among others, failing to protect war materials and abetting illegal repatriation of Rwandan exiles.

The Court Martial Chairman Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe while dropping the charges, told Kayihura that he was “now a free man.” 

Addressing the press outside the courthouse, the 67-year-old retired General said he was lost for words.

“Just know that I am extremely happy and above all, I want to thank God who has sustained me and who by his grace, has made this possible,” he said. 

“I am very pleased that the court martial found me innocent, and I want to thank our leader (President Yoweri Museveni) and the rest of the army leadership for releasing me,” he said.

President Museveni ordered the acquittal of Kayihura of all charges in July this year.

The UPDF through its Deputy Spokesman Deo Akiiki announced that the decision followed a meeting between the President and Kayihura.

“We wish the general the best of his retirement time and we shall always consult him as one of the mentors of most of us remaining behind in active service,” Akiiki said.

Kayihura was sacked from the position of IGP on March 4, 2018, having served in the Police force for 12 years.  

In June of the same year, he was arrested and detained at military police headquarters at Makindye for 76 days without trial, before being arraigned in the court martial where he was charged.