Kampala bomb suspects trial continues
Sep 13, 2011
THE trial of the Kampala twin bomb blasts continues on Wednesday at the High court in Kampala.
By Hillary Nsambu, Edward Anyoli and Andate Okanya
THE trial of the Kampala twin bomb blasts continues on Wednesday at the High court in Kampala.
On Tuesday, 2 of the 14 Al Shabab suspects, Mohamoud Mugisha and Edris Nsubuga, pleaded guilty to participating in the July 11, 2010 Kampala bombings.
Mugisha, 25, told the High Court trial judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo that he conspired with Al Shabab leaders in different countries including Somalia, Kenya and Uganda to commit acts of terrorism.
Nsubuga, 31, who first put up his hand and he was allowed to talk to his lawyer, Alex Bashasha, told the court that he had wanted to plead guilty the previous day, but he felt intimidated by the reactions from his co-accused men.
“My lord, I have now decided to change my plea of not guilty to guilty on the three counts of terrorism,†he told the court.
However, after the judge had asked him whether he had been coerced or influenced by anyone, Nsubuga, who was speaking fluent English, maintained that he had decided on his own to plead guilty.
The judge again assured him of the court’s protection and emphasized that he should never have been intimidated or coerced into pleading guilty.
A total of 76 people perished in the two incidents that occurred at Kyaddondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kampala. The third bomb that had been planted at the Makindye House on the same day was defused before it exploded.
Nsubuga took plead to each of the three terrorism charges as the judge read them out and explained to him what the meant.
It was stated that Nsubuga and those in court together with others still at large, the day in question at Kyadondo Rugby Club, Nakawa and at the Ethiopian village in Makindye Division in Kampala District, with intent to influence the Government of Uganda or intimidate the public and for political, religious, social or economic aim, without due regard to safety for others, intentionally and unlawfully discharged explosives with intent to cause death and serious bodily injuries.
It was also stated that on the same day, Nsubuga and the others in court and those still at large, at the Ethiopian Village Restaurant, Kisugu in Makindye Division, Kampala District, with intent to influence the Government or intimidate the public or sections of the public and; for political, religious, social or economic aim, without due regard to the safety of others or property intentionally and unlawfully delivered and discharged an explosive into the Ethiopian Village Restaurant with intent to cause death and serious bodily injuries or extensive destruction likely or actually result into major economic loss.
The judge also read a third count involving the Makindye House where he placed an ex[plosive with intent to cause death and serious bodily injury, or extensive destruction likely to or actually result into major economic loss.
THE trial of the Kampala twin bomb blasts continues on Wednesday at the High court in Kampala.
On Tuesday, 2 of the 14 Al Shabab suspects, Mohamoud Mugisha and Edris Nsubuga, pleaded guilty to participating in the July 11, 2010 Kampala bombings.
Mugisha, 25, told the High Court trial judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo that he conspired with Al Shabab leaders in different countries including Somalia, Kenya and Uganda to commit acts of terrorism.
Nsubuga, 31, who first put up his hand and he was allowed to talk to his lawyer, Alex Bashasha, told the court that he had wanted to plead guilty the previous day, but he felt intimidated by the reactions from his co-accused men.
“My lord, I have now decided to change my plea of not guilty to guilty on the three counts of terrorism,†he told the court.
However, after the judge had asked him whether he had been coerced or influenced by anyone, Nsubuga, who was speaking fluent English, maintained that he had decided on his own to plead guilty.
The judge again assured him of the court’s protection and emphasized that he should never have been intimidated or coerced into pleading guilty.
A total of 76 people perished in the two incidents that occurred at Kyaddondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kampala. The third bomb that had been planted at the Makindye House on the same day was defused before it exploded.
Nsubuga took plead to each of the three terrorism charges as the judge read them out and explained to him what the meant.
It was stated that Nsubuga and those in court together with others still at large, the day in question at Kyadondo Rugby Club, Nakawa and at the Ethiopian village in Makindye Division in Kampala District, with intent to influence the Government of Uganda or intimidate the public and for political, religious, social or economic aim, without due regard to safety for others, intentionally and unlawfully discharged explosives with intent to cause death and serious bodily injuries.
It was also stated that on the same day, Nsubuga and the others in court and those still at large, at the Ethiopian Village Restaurant, Kisugu in Makindye Division, Kampala District, with intent to influence the Government or intimidate the public or sections of the public and; for political, religious, social or economic aim, without due regard to the safety of others or property intentionally and unlawfully delivered and discharged an explosive into the Ethiopian Village Restaurant with intent to cause death and serious bodily injuries or extensive destruction likely or actually result into major economic loss.
The judge also read a third count involving the Makindye House where he placed an ex[plosive with intent to cause death and serious bodily injury, or extensive destruction likely to or actually result into major economic loss.