Kamoga, sheikhs murder judgment for Monday

The long awaited judgment of 14 men battling terrorism and complicity in the murder of prominent sheikhs in the country is expected to be delivered on Monday morning at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala.

The suspects, who include the Tabliq leader Amir Ummah Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga, have been on trial since June 2016, before a panel of three High Court Judges headed by Ezekiel Muhanguzi. The other judges are Jane Kiggundu and Percy Night Tuhaise.

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The accused men were arrested in January 2015 and indicted for murder of a number of prominent Sheikhs, including Sheikhs Mustafa Bahiga and Hassan Kirya.

Bahiga was shot dead by unknown assailants riding on bodaboda on December, 24, 2014 at Bwebajja along Entebbe road, while sheikh Kirya was shot dead on June 30, 2016 in the city suburb of Bweyogerere in the same style by unknown assailants, also riding on boda-boda.

Others accused men are Sheikh Siraje Kawooya, Murta Mudde Bukenya, Fahad Kalungi, Amir Kinene, Hakim Kinene Muswaswa, Yusuf Kakande, Abdulsalam Sekayanja, Abdulhamid Mubiru Sematimba, Hamza Kasirye, Twaha Ssekitto, Rashid Jjingo, Musa Issa Mubiru, and George William Iga.

By midday today, the group and their relatives would get to know their fate.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) produced 36 witnesses, upon which court found all the accused with a case to answer.

The DPP lawyers were led by Principal state Attorney Lino Anguzu. Others are principle state attorney's Thomas Jatiko and Rachael Bikhole. 

The 14 accused that are represented by MacDosman Kabega, Fred Muwema, Roberts Kagoro, Twaha Mayanja, Charles Nsubuga and Sylvia Namawejje opted to remain silent.

 Giving their opinion recently, assessors Robert Sseguya Lubega, Ahmed Ddumba and Judith Muhairwe advised the judges to acquit the 14 accused men on grounds that there was no incriminating evidence against any of the accused persons to show that any of them before court participated in the actual murder.

 Most of the prosecution witnesses told court that there was a fight over leadership between the deceased persons and sheikh Kamoga and his group, which could have resulted into the murders.

Sheikh Yasin Kakomo, one of the prosecution witnesses told Court that the deceased were accusing Kamoga of mismanaging the Tabliq Muslim community (Jamiyyat Daawa Asalafiyyah) affairs and they hence denounced him.

However, shortly after they denounced him, fliers with portrait of the deceased persons and some of their allies started circulating in various Mosques and seminars warning Muslims not to associate with them because they were wrong elements and enemies of the Islamic religion.