Govt wants Mukulu''s accomplices extradited

May 30, 2015

UGANDA has through the foreign affairs ministry written to its Tanzanian counterparts demanding for the extradition of four suspected Allied Democratic Force rebels

By Simon Masaba & Jeff Andrew Lule

 

THE Government of Uganda through the ministry of foreign affairs has written to their Tanzanian counterparts demanding for the extradition of four other Allied Democratic Force (ADF) suspected rebels to stand trial on various charges in Kampala.

 

The suspects are said to have been arrested in April shortly after the capture of the ADF rebel leader Jamil Mukulu in Tanzania.

 

The four were identified as Ahmed Matovu also known as Mohamed Sebaduka. Others are Omar Abdullah Mutuka from Busia, Bashir Muwanga and Abdul Rashid Kalenga.

 

Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said Matovu jumped bail on charges of murder and terrorism at Buganda Road Court in early 2000.

 

"The government has already written to Tanzanian government for their extradition. These people played specific management roles in the ADF and they have cases to answer," he added.

 

The foreign affairs ministry spokesman, Fred Opolot said the Ministry of Justice wrote through their ministry over the suspects they want.

 

This comes when Government of Uganda is still pushing to have Mukulu returned to the country to face prosecution for criminal charges.

 

The hearing of the application for the extradition of Mukulu failed to take off in a Magistrates' court in Tanzania presided over by principle resident magistrate Cyprian Mkeha, when he failed to showed up on Tuesday.

 

His lawyer Martin Rwehumbiza said his client was not medically fit to appear in court.

Rwehumbiza was to respond to Uganda's extradition application, giving reasons why Mukulu should not be sent back to his home country for trial.

 

The case was adjourned to June 9, when the defence will file their counter affidavit opposing the extradition.

 

Mukulu is accused of commanding a spate of brutal attacks against civilians in both Uganda and Congo in the 1990s.

 

In the extradition application, the attorney general attached several documents showing that Mukulu was wanted for five alleged murder charges, three charges relating to attempted murder and two involving armed robbery.

 

The application is also supported by an arrest warrant issued by a residential magistrate court at Jinja, showing that Mukulu was facing murder charges in Uganda.

 

Mukulu was arrested by Tanzanian police last month.

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