Ssebutinde frees Tabliqs on treason

By Hillary Nsambu THE Government has pardoned 12 of the 52 Buseruka Muslim Tabliqs on treason charges after they renounced rebellion. Lady Justice Julia Ssebutinde released the men yesterday and advised them to keep out of trouble in future. In individual affidavits they swore before a Justice of Peace and officer in charge of Upper Prison, Luzira, Mr David Nsalasatta, they said, "I.... do hereby declare that I renounce the rebellion against the Government of Uganda as per Section 3 of the Amnesty Act 2000 and declare my intention to apply for amnesty as per section 4 (2) of the Amnesty Act 2000." The Amnesty Commission granted the pardon on September 29, 2000. Mr Richard Buteera, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), certified the amnesty and dropped the charges on Monday. Those released are Musoke Moses Ssekatawa, Abubaker Kalungi, Abbas Mawanda, Salim Wamimbi, Mohammed Katongole, Meddi Lwere, Abbas Gamusi, Ismail Ntale Jjuuko, Ismail Ssempagala, Yusuf Kaliisa, Abdu Ssewajjwa and Stiffu Kiyimba. State counsel David Ndamurani Ateenyi said the State was no longer interested in the case as the Commission had pardoned them. In the morning, the 12 men singled themselves out and told the court that they had applied for Amnesty in February this year, and they had wanted to know their fate before they could proceed with the trial. Meanwhile, two of the remaining 40 suspects, reconsidered their earlier decision not to apply for amnesty. Moses Boogere and John Nakeba told the judge that they would now ask for pardon. The remaining 38 suspects insisted that they were innocent and wanted to stand trial. Mr Ezekiel Nsubuga-Mubiru, the lawyer appearing for all the 38, told the court that he had instructions to proceed. The suspects said they would rather stay in jail for more five years than ask for pardon. "We are innocent and we want to prove it," they said.