Ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee convicted of soliciting support for ADF
Kiyemba was convicted on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, after the court found that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he solicited or invited members of the public to support the terrorist organisation.
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jamal Kiyemba alias Abudalla. (File)
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The International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala has convicted former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jamal Kiyemba alias Abudalla of soliciting support for the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Kiyemba was convicted on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, after the court found that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he solicited or invited members of the public to support the terrorist organisation.
However, the court acquitted Kiyemba of belonging to a terrorist organisation, citing insufficient evidence to prove that he was a member of the ADF.
The court also dismissed a separate charge of rendering support to a terrorist organisation, holding that the legal provision under which the charge was brought did not apply to the circumstances of the case.
According to the court, the provision relied upon by the prosecution applies to support rendered to natural persons and not to terrorist organisations.
The court heard that on January 29, 2022, at about 9:30am, Kiyemba was at the Old Taxi Park in Kampala, where he was preparing to travel to Bugiri district.
The prosecution alleged that Kiyemba shouted, “Long live ADF,” before urging members of the public to support the rebel group.
He reportedly warned that blood would continue to be shed in Kampala if members of the public failed to support the ADF.
A civilian who witnessed the incident became concerned and reported the matter to a military officer, who arrested Kiyemba and took him to the nearby Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) offices.
Following investigations, Kiyemba was charged with three offences, namely rendering support to a terrorist organisation, belonging to a terrorist organisation and soliciting support for a terrorist organisation.
The court also found that aspects of Kiyemba’s own testimony corroborated the prosecution's evidence.
The court consequently found the evidence sufficient to prove the charge of soliciting support for a terrorist organisation beyond reasonable doubt.
However, the court found that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to establish that Kiyemba was a member of the ADF and acquitted him of the charge of belonging to a terrorist organisation.
The court similarly dismissed the charge of rendering support to a terrorist organisation after finding that the relevant legal provision was inapplicable to the facts of the case.
During the trial, Kiyemba raised the defence of insanity, claiming that he suffered from Bipolar Affective Disorder.
He argued that his mental condition affected his ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of his actions at the time of the alleged offence.
However, the court rejected the defence after finding that the evidence demonstrated that Kiyemba was capable of making mental assessments and judgments.
The court further found that he understood the nature and consequences of his words and actions at the time he made the statements in support of the ADF.
The court, therefore, held Kiyemba criminally responsible for his actions and convicted him of soliciting support for a terrorist organisation.
Background
The prosecution case arose from an incident at the Old Taxi Park in Kampala on January 29, 2022, where Kiyemba allegedly solicited or invited support for the ADF.
According to the summary of the case, Kiyemba got in touch with ADF leader Jamil Mukulu in 2006 and subsequently joined the organisation.
The prosecution alleged that Kiyemba became an active member of the ADF and was involved in recruiting and training terrorists.
The court further heard that between 2021 and January 2022, while in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kiyemba belonged or professed to belong to the ADF, a designated terrorist organisation, and recruited persons for the group alongside others who are still at large.
Kiyemba's background
According to information presented in the case, Kiyemba travelled to the United Kingdom in 1998, aged 20, to pursue a degree in pharmacy.
He was, however, arrested in Pakistan in 2002 together with a United States operative and suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists while attempting to enter Afghanistan.
Kiyemba was subsequently detained at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for four years before he was released in 2006 following intervention by Muslim activists.
He was later reportedly compensated sh3.7b for alleged wrongful imprisonment and abuse of his human rights before being deported to Uganda.
Kiyemba had earlier been granted permanent stay in Britain before his arrest in Pakistan.