Maj. Kiggundu murder case hearing resumes

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The hearing of a case in which seven people are accused of murdering Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu resumed on Friday, July 25, 2025, in the International Crimes Division of the High Court.

The accused are Sheikh Ramathan Yahaya Mwanje, Mohammed Buyondo alias Matiya, Abdu Wahab Sendegeya, Musa Ssekandi alias Masanafu, Jibril Kalyango alias Bin Suleiman, Bruhan Balyejusa Kalyango and Noordin Lutaya alias Ibrahim Ssemwanga.

They appeared before court presided over by justices Susan Okalany, Boniface Wamala and Alice Komuhangi.

The murder

On November 26, 2016, Kiggundu was murdered in cold blood at Masanafu trading centre together with his bodyguard Sgt. Steven Mukasa.

Kiggundu was on his way to participate in an Islamic educational programme on Pearl FM when they were intercepted by armed men riding on motorcycles and shot dead. 

According to the indictment signed by the Principal State Attorney, John Baptist Asiimwe, Mwanje was seen along the Kampala Northern Bypass shortly before the deceased was murdered, yet before the attack, his recordings contained hate speech sentiments directed at Kiggundu.

They are battling charges of murder and belonging to a terrorist group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The charges attract a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.

Prosecution also alleges that the accused and others still at large between 2010 and 2017 in diverse districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Bugiri, Tororo, Mayuge, Masaka, Mityana, Mbarara, Mubende, Kasese, Busia, among others, rendered support to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group.

According to the prosecution, the accused recruited and trained manpower for ADF, knowing that its results were to overthrow the government or commit terrorist acts in the country.