Last August, Robert Awudele's brother died not long after reportedly revealing that he had consumed City 5, a locally made gin.

Dozens of other people, including the LC2 chairperson of Oduluba ward in Arua city, also died around the same time. They, too, were reported to have consumed the same brand of alcohol.

Over 60 people died that August in Arua and Madi Okollo districts in northern Uganda after reportedly consuming City 5.

On Wednesday (July 19), nearly a year on, the hearing of the case got under way at Arua Chief Magistrate's Court in Arua city.

In the witness stand, Awudele told court that his brother, Titus Awudele, suffered general body weakness, sight difficulties, severe stomachache, headache and unusual sweating.

He died on August 19.

Awudele also testified that the body of his brother was taken for a postmortem examination, but that they never received the autopsy results.

He said that after the burial, he found two bottles of City 5 gin under his late brother's bed, with one of them half-empty.

The persons accused of making the killer alcohol are facing charges of murder, manslaughter and attempted murder.

Other charges preferred against the accused are of manufacture, sale, distribution, and possession of products that do not conform to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

The accused are Rose Inzikuru and Gideon Adule, who are residents of Kasua cell, Pokea ward in Ayivu division. The other accused is Norman Godfrey, a bar operator within Oduluba ward, Ayivu division.

They have been out on bail since last year.

After Thursday's session, Chief Magistrate Paul Matyama adjourned the case until August 9 for hearing from more witnesses.

Following the deaths last year, UNBS launched an investigation into the matter.

The standards body found out that City 5 had excessive levels of methanol.

In a statement, UNBS said: "It is likely that the perpetrators deliberately and illegally used methanol as a cheaper alternative to increase the potency of the City 5 gin, instead of ethanol, which is commonly used in making alcohol beverages."