A Ugandan man has been charged in a court in Kenya for the possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate.
Francis Kapchanga Masai from Kapchorwa district was arrested on Friday last week when he attempted to bribe a Kenyan police officer at the Malaba border crossing. Masai allegedly refused to let the policeman search his bag and offered him 1,000 Kenyan shillings to convince him to look away.
Appearing before the Bungoma Senior Resident Magistrate Julius Nganga on Monday, Francis Masai denied the charges against him. He was granted a bond of 50,000 Kenyan shillings, which is about 1.25 Ugandan shillings.
Masai's not guilty plea contradicts earlier confessions he had made to the police. He told Kenyan detectives that he was a former member of the People's Militia of Uganda. He claimed to have bought the 505 bullets in his possession from a Sudanese businessman called Martin Keri.
According to Masai, Martin Keri, who is known by his friends as Apollo XI, is a regular supplier of illegal guns.
Masai said he was taking the ammunition to West Pokot district in Kenya.
