Buganda Road Court Magistrate Stella Amabilis has on Thursday 7th November exonerated social media critic and renowned 'Ssemyekozo' Frank Gashumba from charges of fraud that were slapped against him in 2017 for failure of the government prosecution side to avail enough evidence pinning the later to the alleged crime.
Frank Gashumba in company of brother Innocent Gashumba and a one Kiyingi were arraigned in court in 2017 and charged with over 28 counts after being arrested by the military police.
Among the charges charged with impersonation, forgery, unlawful possession of narcotic drugs and conspiracy to commit a felony. The army through the deputy Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Deo Akiiki revealed to the nation that Gashumba and friends where netted while planning to fleece an investor by disguising as defence ministry officials.
“The fraudsters under the cover of a company named Flagship Group purported to be contracted by Ministry of Defence for out sourcing had invited the investors to Golden Tulip Hotel in Nakasero for a meeting over a purported deal to supply UPDF with hundreds of Military Trucks,” the army said then.
But Court today presided over by magistrate Stella Amabillis has kicked out the case over the failure of witnesses to turn up for hearing. He was later charged with impersonation, forgery, unlawful possession of narcotic drugs and conspiracy to commit felony. The army said then that Gashumba and one Innocent Kasumba were netted while planning to fleece and investor by disguising as defence ministry officials.
Now Gashumba as usual has hit his social media Facebook official account to speak volumes with all signs showing he is determined to sue the government for tarnishing his reputation.
"Do you still remember how, two years ago, the M7 operatives arrested me paraded me before the whole world, claiming that they had recovered stamps,marijuana,cocaine from my home and office? After spending an unlawful week in detention and later released due to public outcry, my brother Innocent, a friend Kiyingi, and myself were arraigned in court and charged with 28 counts.
God was surely on our side that day, and court granted us bail with tough conditions to tender my passport before court. Every time I had to travel out, I had to seek permission from court. We have been making regular visits to court for the last two years. In 23 days, no single witness came to present any evidence. Senior Magistrate Stella Amabilis wondered how in two years, no witness appeared to present any evidence Against me. Court dissmisssed the case and announced that we were free men!Thank you God, thank you to the family and friends that have stood by me, all this time.
To you all my friends and confidants, i am going to inform you my next course of action. We shall not allow these vampires and cackle, attached to public institutions, using state resources to maliciously tarnish and embarrass innocent Ugandans," Said MR. Frank Gashumba.
