The pre-trial of eight suspects indicted over the attempted murder of works minister, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, has been deferred to March 30, for inspection and marking of exhibits intended to be admitted in court as evidence. 

The exhibits include guns, bullets, bombs, army uniforms and boots, mobile phones, among others. 

The case before the International Crimes Division of the High Court is being presided over by Judge Alice Komuhangi. State Attorney Marion Ben-Bella is prosecuting the case while the defence lawyers are Geoffrey Turyamusiima and Elias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola. 

Gen. Katumba was on June 1, last year, attacked by unknown assailants at Kisaasi Central Zone, Nakawa Division in Kampala district. 

During the attack, Gen. Katumba survived with gunshot wounds while his daughter, Brenda Nantongo, and his driver, Sgt Haruna Kayondo, were murdered in cold blood. 

The accused are Yasin Nyanzi, Hussein Sserubula, Muhammad Kagugube, Sirimani Kisambira, Abudullah Aziz Ramadhan Dunka, Kamada Walusimbi, Habib Ramadhan Marjan and Huzaifah Wampa. 

The Prosecution alleges that between March 2015 and June 2021, while at various places in the country, the accused involved themselves in attacks and murders on Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) and Police personnel, civilians, and police establishments without any due regard to their safety. 

They are also indicted with the attempted murder of Gen. Katumba’s bodyguards, Sgt. Khalid Koboyoit and Boniface Mucunguzi, in addition to another count of terrorism. 

Nansana murders 

The group also faces another set of charges in relation to murder and aggravated robbery at Gheap General Hardware in Nansana, City Shoppers supermarket in Kanyanya and Denovo Bakery in Kalerwe, respectively. 

According to the charge sheet, the group is accused of killing Frank Abaho Mutsinda, Frank Anania, Jimmy Atukuru, and Amin Bugembe, all employees of Cheap General Hardware and robbing the company of sh385m on May 29, 2019. They are also accused of attempting to murder Tedrin Nalule. 

In regard to the supermarket attack, they are accused of killing Burton Okoti and robbing over sh6.7m that was in the possession of Precious Kayesu and Aisha Nakafeero, respectively, in addition to the attempted murder of their colleague Jalia Nantambi. 

The accused persons are also implicated in the murders at Denovo Bakery on September 16, 2017, where five people including two special police constables Hussein Mubiru and Moses Kalungi were shot dead before injuring Angello Nantongo, Everest Hakizza and Edward Ssenyonzi.