Suspects in Maj. Kiggundu's murder further remanded

Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court has further remanded four people including former acting Tabliq leader Yahaya Mwanje accused of masterminding the murder of Sheikh Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu and his body guard.

This was after state prosecutor Emily Ninsiima informed court presided over by Chief Magistrate Jameson Karemani that investigations into the case were still ongoing.

Others accused are Yahaya Mwanje, 50, Muhammad Buyondo, 43, Abdu Wahab Ssendegeya, 37, and Musa Ssekandi, 42.

Karemani also declined to summon the commandant of Nalufenya Police Station as earlier sought by defence lawyers to answer allegations of torture and unlawful detention of the suspects.

He ruled that section 42 (3) of the Magistrates' Court Act provides that any person may lodge a complaint before the Magistrate but must have jurisdiction to try and investigate the complaint which he did not have.

"I find that this court lacks jurisdiction to handle this complaint because the offences were allegedly committed in Jinja which is not in the jurisdiction of this court. I would advise the complainant to lodge a complaint to a court that can try and investigate the claims" Karemani ruled.

Recently, defence lawyer Fred Muwema asked court to issue criminal summons against Police officer Wilson Omoding, the commandant of Nalufenya Police Station over the alleged prolonged detention of the accused beyond 48 hours under the constitution and subjecting them to torture. 

The case was adjourned to February 9^th when the accused would be produced in court to know the status of the investigations.

Prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on November 26, 2016 at Masanafu trading centre, Rubaga division in Kampala murdered Maj. Kiggundu.

It further alleges that on the same day and place, they also murdered Kiggundu's bodyguard Sgt. Steven Mukasa.

Murder is contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code and carries a maximum sentence of death on conviction.

According to court documents, Mwanje was arrested a day after the murder of Kiggundu and his bodyguard Sgt. Steven Mukasa over his earlier "utterances" threatening his life.

For the second time, the accused were not allowed to plead to the charges since murder is a capital offence only tried by the High Court.