By Andrew Irumba
Social activist Frank Gashumba malingumu is one of the happiest lads in dusty city Kampala after Buganda Road court dismissed various charges he was facing with his co-accused Ismail Kiyingi and his brother Innocent Kasumba, on Thursday morning.
Buganda Road court Chief Magistrate Stella Amabilisi dismissed a case in which Government accused Gashumba and his brother of forgery of army stamps, travel documents, dealing in illegal trade of marijuana among others.
Gashumba told Spy Uganda reporter Andrew Irumba on phone shortly after the court ruling thus; “My charge sheet had 27 counts, I have reported 23 times since November 2017, but no Government agent has ever appeared in Court to defend their propaganda. “
He added that “This is persecution; they thought I would tire and ware out, they’re ashamed. But we’re going to sit with my lawyer (Denis Nyombi of Denis Nyombi & co.advocates) and see what next.”
Gashumba’s troubles started in November 2017, when operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) arrested him and co-accused, presented them before the press at Army Headquarters in Mbuya with ‘exhibits’ of forged paper works, army stamps, marijuana among others.
However, after seven days in detention, they were granted bail by court as the police conducted more investigations into their cases, although no incriminating evidence had ever been adduced in court to pin them, which perhaps prompted the Magistrate to dismiss the case.
But Gashumba isn’t new to arrests, because in 2013, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations investigated him on similar allegations when he was accused of impersonating the defense ministry permanent secretary and defrauding Turkish investors of millions of shillings.
However, the findings from the investigations were never made public nor did the case make it to court.
Gashumba has now vowed to take Govt to Court for compensation,in which he will be seeking for over shs1Billion in damages and legal costs.
