Kampala Al Shabaab terror probe nearing completion

By Andante Okanya

A probe linking 10 terror suspects including nine Somalis and one Kenyan arrested in September from the city suburb of Kisenyi is nearing completion, court told.

On Friday, state prosecutor Edward Muhumuza informed Buganda Road Court in Kampala, that the Police was completing the final stages of its investigations.

“Inquiries are ongoing but we are left with something small to complete,” Muhumuza told court presided over by grade I magistrate Simon Zirintuusa.

Lawyers David Mushabe, Richard Rugambwa, Andrew Manzi, and Noah Sekabojja, represented the suspects.

Muhumuza requested for more time to complete inquiries, which was granted. Proceedings were adjourned to November 21, and they were further remanded to Luzira Prison till then.

They are battling charges of aiding and abetting terrorism contrary to Section 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002. On conviction, the penalty is death.

Additionally, they are charged with the offence of belonging to a terrorist organization contrary to Section 11(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002.

Procedurally on completion of the probe, the Police inform the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, which notifies court of the development by formulating an indictment.

The committal papers containing the indictment are then forwarded to the High Court, which has jurisdiction to try the capital offence of terrorism.

The Magistrate’s Court only has powers to mention such cases, during which suspects are informed of the progress of the investigations.

They are Mohamed Abdulkdir Hirsi alias Mohamed Abdul Aziz Adan, 31, Abdi Abdullahi Bootan, 26, Hassan Abduwali Mohamoud, 25, Mohammed Ahmed Gele, 28, Yasimin Abdullahi Aden, 20, Hodan Ahmed Dahir, 23, Yusufu Osman Hussein, 29, Abdi Mohamed, 29, and Abdul  Kadir,24.

The Kenyan national is Mohamed Yusuf Farah, 31.