Kiggundu murder suspects' bail hearing flops

Mar 30, 2017

The Director of Public Prosecution has been directed to complete investigations within 30 days

Hearing of a bail application where four people including former acting Tabliq leader Yahaya Mwanje are implicated in the death of Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu flopped yesterday.

When the bail application came up before Wilson Kwesiga, the criminal division of the High Court head, senior state prosecutor Barbra Masinde said she was not ready to argue the application citing incomplete investigations.

"We are not ready to proceed with the hearing of the case because we had short time to reply to it. We were served on March 21, 2017 and made efforts to file reply and serve lawyers by Wednesday evening. Secondly we are still conducting investigations," Masinde said.

This prompted the Judge to direct the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to complete investigations within 30 days, or else he will consider hearing the suspect's bail application.

On November 26, 2016, Maj. Kiggundu and his bodyguard Sgt. Steven Mukasa were shot dead in Masanafu trading centre in Rubaga Division by unknown assailants traveling on boda bodas.

Subsequent to the murder, four people including former acting Tabliq leader Yahaya Mwanje were arrested and charged before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court.

Others are businessman Musa Ssekandi alias Masanafu, bodaboda riders Muhammad Buyondo alias Matia and Abdul Wahaab Sendegeya.

In their application, the accused are seeking to be released on bail, pending hearing of their murder case on grounds that bail is a Constitutional right and that they will not interfere with Police investigations.

According to the accused, they are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and have permanent places of residence within the court's jurisdiction.

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

They were charged with murder contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act. The offence carries a maximum sentence of death on conviction.

According to court documents Mwanje, 50, was arrested over his earlier "utterances" threatening Kiggundu's life while Buyondo, Ssendegeya and Ssekandi are accused of conspiracy to commit the offence.

The accused are slated to first appear before chief Magistrate Jameson Karemani on April 7, 2017 for mention of their case. 

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