Court jails ADF operative in Mukulu case over LC3 chairperson killing

KAMPALA - An Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) operative who tracked Buyinja sub-county LC3 chairperson Tito Okwale, who was later shot dead by accused Ali Kabambwe aka Munakenya, in February 2015, is serving 17 years in prison over terrorism, the court has heard.

Kabambwe is among 38 people on trial for murder and terrorism alongside the former ADF rebel commander Jamilu Mukulu.

Two months ago, the International Crimes Division of the High Court convicted Ibrahim Kyessa on his plea of guilty and sentenced him to 17 years' imprisonment. The justices who convicted Kyessa were Alice Komuhangi, Richard Wejuli Wabwire and Celia Nagawa.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness on November 20, 2025, Salama Ndibogeza, a resident of Namayingo district, informed the court that Kyessa began trailing Okwale on February 1, 2015, during the day at a gold mine in Nakundi, where she has a hotel.

She added that later that night, she saw Kyessa again, wearing the same clothes and riding on a bodaboda with Kabambwe, who then shot Okwale dead.

“Okwale was wearing a white pair of trousers and I could recognise him by his body size, the witness said, noting that he (Kyessa) was neither small nor fat.
Ndibogeza told the court that, despite it being night, she was able to identify Kyessa using the faint illumination from the moon.

The International Crimes Division of the High Court is being presided over by justices Michael Elubu, Dr Andrew Bashaija, Susan Okalany and Stephen Mubiru.
“Kyessa was with the assailants who killed Okwale while he was at a neighbour’s home eating jackfruit,” the witness said.

The witness stated that she was at her home at the time the assailants passed along the pathway that runs through Okwale’s compound. She further indicated that the distance between her home and Okwale’s home is approximately 180 meters.

The witness was giving her testimony under the guidance of assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko and chief state attorney Richard Birivumbuka.

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Evans Ochieng, the witness confirmed that the assailants who killed Okwale were riding a motorcycle.

Ndibogeza further testified that although she did not know Kyessa personally, she recognised him by face, having previously seen him at a gold mine in Nakundi, Namayingo district. However, the witness stated in her Police statement that she did not know the assailants.

The witness also confirmed that at the time of the incident, Kyessa was in the company of two other individuals: Kabambwe and another unidentified assailant who emerged from a nearby bush.

She added that a public road passes through Okwale’s home, commonly used by bodaboda riders and pedestrians.

Allegations

Mukulu and the group are implicated in the murder of seven people, including Sheikh Abdukadir Muwaya and Sheik Yunus Abubaker Madangu. Muwaya was murdered on December 25, 2014, at Kavule LC1 in Mayuge district.

Others killed were Julius Owori, police constable Muzamir Babale, special police constable Karim Tenywa and John Stephen Owori.

According to the prosecution, the accused committed the offence between 2002 and 2015 in various districts, including Kampala, for purposes of influencing the government or intimidating the public for political, religious, social or economic aim, and indiscriminately without due regard to the safety of others or property.

The prosecution said they will rely on several exhibits, including explosives, guns, ammunition, literature related to activities of ADF, car number plates and confession statements of some suspects during the trial.