Mukulu trial starts after 11 years

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The trial of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander Jamilu Mukulu, which started on Monday, continues Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala.

Mukulu has been on remand at Luzira Prison for 11 years, facing charges related to terrorism.

The case is being heard by a panel of Justices Michael Elubu, Dr Andrew Bashaija, Susan Okalany and Stephen Mubiru.

First prosecution witness Vincent Ekweny testified that his uncle Tito Okwale, the LC3 Chairperson of Buyinja sub-county, was killed by Mukulu and his men in February 2015.

Ekweny, a peasant farmer from Namavundu in Namayingo district, recounted that on February 1, 2015, he was working at a gold mine in Nakundi when his uncle, arrived to check on him.

They spent the afternoon together, with Ekweny mining while Okwale examined faulty machinery at the site. They later returned to Okwale’s home at around 6:00pm.

As they settled in, Ekweny sat on the veranda while his uncle went into the kitchen and returned with a jackfruit. Ekweny said, then Okwale moved to sit on the neighbour’s veranda, just a few meters away from home.

The witness said that it was at this point that when he saw a motorcycle carrying three men slowly passing through the compound along a small feeder road. The motorcycle had no number plate, and although its headlamp was on full beam, the witness said the bright moonlight allowed him to see clearly.

Moments later, the motorcycle returned with two men. The passenger jumped off and ran towards Ekweny, stopping close enough for the two to stare at each other for nearly two minutes.

Ekweny described the man as small-bodied, dark-skinned, and wearing a long coat that reached his feet. He insisted that the lighting conditions enabled him to clearly see the assailant.

According to the witness, the assailant then turned toward Okwale and shot him as he sat on the neighbour’s veranda eating jackfruit.

“The attacker then turned back towards me and I ran into the house,” he said.

The witness said that the gunman returned briefly and fired additional shots before fleeing with the rider.

He told the court that the deceased later lost his eyesight from the gunshot wounds.  The Court has also heard that the Uganda Police eventually arrived at the scene but were chased away by angry residents who accused them of responding too late. 

Ekweny said that on February 4, 2025, he was summoned to the disbanded Nalufenya Police Facility in Jinja to identify suspects who had been arrested. During the identification parade, he said that he recognised the man who shot his uncle, pointing at Mukulu’s co-accused, Ali Kabambwe, also known as Muna Kenya.

Allegations

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

Others killed were LC3 chairperson Tito Kwa, 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 intends to 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.