By THE OBSERVER UG
The High Court has officially charged eight individuals in connection with the killing of Major Mohammad Kiggundu and his bodyguard, Sergeant Steven Mukasa, in November 2016.
Justice Richard Wejuli Wabwire confirmed multiple charges on Monday against the accused, who will now face trial before a designated panel. The charged individuals include Sheikh Yahaya Ramathan Mwanje, the deputy Amir Ummah, Yusuf Siraje Nyanzi, Jibril Kalyango, Bruhan Balyejusa, and Noordin Lutaaya, all facing allegations of murder.
In addition, Mohammed Buyondo, Abdul Wahab Sendegeya, Musa Sekandi, Yusuf Nyanzi Siraje, Balyejusa, and Lutaaya face further charges of aiding and abetting terrorism. The court also upheld charges of belonging to a terrorist organization against Balyejjusa and Lutaaya.
The ruling came after submissions from both the defense, represented by Geoffrey Turyamusiima, and the prosecution, assessing the sufficiency of evidence supporting the charges. Justice Wabwire, in delivering the ruling, affirmed that the evidence presented substantiates the charges against the accused.
The investigation revealed that Sheikh Mwanje was spotted near the Northern by-pass shortly before the murder of Kiggundu and Mukasa in Masanafu, a Kampala suburb, on November 26, 2016. Court records also indicate frequent communication between Mwanje and his co-accused, with call logs regularly deleted post-conversations. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asserts that Mwanje, then the head of Nakasero Mosque, allegedly made threats against Kiggundu and certain Muslim clerics due to disagreements over mosque leadership and projects.
All the accused maintain their innocence and are currently out on bail, except for Lutaya and Nyanzi. Nyanzi remains in custody for the murder of Gen Katumba Wamala’s daughter, Brenda Nantongo, and driver Haruna Kayondo, along with charges linked to the killings of former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his driver Kenneth Erau, and Godfrey Mambewa.
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