Former ADF recruits convicted over Munyonyo, Kalerwe bomb murders
The three-member court, chaired by Brig. Gen. Richard Tukacungurwa, convicted the two after they confirmed that the facts read to court by the prosecution were true.
The General Court Martial in Makindye convicted the two after they confirmed that the facts read to court by the prosecution were true. (Courtesy)
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The General Court Martial in Makindye has convicted two former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) recruits on two counts of murder arising from separate bomb incidents in Kampala mid-last year.
They are now awaiting sentencing, which is due next Monday (October 12).
The events happened in Munyonyo during the June 3 Martyrs Day celebrations and at Kalerwe Market on June 21.
Hamza Lyavaala and Adil Walusansa were convicted after pleading guilty. They are jointly charged with UPDF's Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, who has denied the charges and is scheduled to face trial over the same offences.
The three-member court, chaired by Brig. Gen. Richard Tukacungurwa, convicted the two after they confirmed that the facts read to court by the prosecution were true.
Led by Lt Regina Nanzala, the prosecution told court that about three weeks before Martyrs Day, Byaruhanga allegedly convened a meeting at Gowers Hotel in Namulanda, where he briefed Lyavaala and Walusansa about a suicide mission.
Byaruhanga was allegedly dissatisfied with his superiors, then Deputy Chief of Intelligence and Security Brig. Gen. Abdul Rugumayo and Director of Intelligence and Security Maj. Gen. Richard Otto.
The prosecution said Lyavaala undertook to find a woman to execute the mission.
Byaruhanga allegedly gave Walusansa money to rent a house, which he did at Kinawa in Nateete, Kampala, as well as to travel to Busoga to find a woman for the mission.
The first operation would take place at Munyonyo on June 3.
That fateful day, Byaruhanga allegedly drove Lyavaala and Walusansa to Munyonyo and informed them that he had linked up with officers from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT), who allegedly knew about the operation and were expected to counter it.
The prosecution said Sumaya later left the rented house carrying a bomb. When she reached the agreed target area near Kagwa Bridge, close to Munyonyo Catholic Shrine, the bomb exploded, killing her at the scene.
According to the prosecution, Byaruhanga subsequently invited police officers, who took over the crime scene.
About a week later, Byaruhanga again allegedly contacted Lyavaala and Walusansa and asked them to contact Kassim for another suicide bomber.
Kassim allegedly brought another woman, identified as Azuta Sawiya, who was taken for reconnaissance around Kalerwe, where the second operation was allegedly planned.
On June 21, Lyavaala was allegedly in possession of two bombs with the knowledge of Byaruhanga and was instructed to give one to Sawiya and the other to Kassim.
The prosecution said the accused were at the Kalerwe scene with JATT officers waiting for Sawiya to arrive. When she reached Busega, Lyavaala allegedly alerted JATT officers, who followed her.
Sawiya was shot when she arrived at Kalerwe Market and died at the scene. The bomb she was carrying was subsequently detonated, after which police took over the crime scene.
After the prosecution read the brief facts, Lyavaala and Walusansa confirmed that the facts were true and pleaded guilty to the two murder charges. The court consequently convicted them on their own plea of guilty.
Nanzala asked the court to impose the death penalty, saying the duo had participated in operations that resulted in the deaths of the two women.
Defence lawyer Maj. Simon Busagwa Nsubuga asked the court to be lenient, saying the convicts were family men capable of reform. He told court that one of the convicts has six children and four wives, while one of his children has a heart-related condition requiring regular care.
The court is due to sentence the two early next week.
Birungi case
The Munyonyo and Kalerwe incidents also feature in the wider security case involving former Chief of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. James Birungi.
Birungi was arrested in August 2026 and is facing charges of treachery and offences related to security. He has been detained at the Makindye Military Police Barracks.
He appeared before the General Court Martial on Monday, but his case was adjourned to October 12 after the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed because one of their witnesses is out of the country on official duties.
The facts presented during the conviction of Lyavaala and Walusansa attributed the planning of the Munyonyo and Kalerwe operations to Lt Col Byaruhanga.
The prosecution said Byaruhanga recruited Lyavaala and Walusansa, facilitated the acquisition of explosives and arranged for the women to participate in the operations.