Kiggundu murder suspects bail hearing for today

The four suspects in the murder Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu before Buganda Road Court Kampala on January 6, 2017. Left to right: Buyondo Muhammed, Abdu Wahab SSendegeya, Yahay Ramathan Mwanje and Musa Ssekandi. Photo/File

The High Court will today start hearing  the bail application for four people including former acting Tabliq leader Yahaya Mwanje, implicated in the murder of Sheikh Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu and his body guard.

Others seeking for temporary relief pending the hearing of their case are businessman Musa Ssekandi alias Masanafu, boda-boda riders Muhammad Buyondo alias Matia and Abdul Wahaab Sendegeya. The accused have spent over four months on remand at Luzira maximum Prison.

The High court Judge heading the criminal division, Justice Wilson Kwesiga will preside over the case.

On November 26, 2016, Maj. Kiggundu was shot dead in the city suburbs of Masanafu trading centre in Rubaga Division together with his bodyguard Sgt. Steven Mukasa by yet to be known assailants traveling on boda-bodas.

In their application, the accused want the High court to temporarily release them from Luzira prison, pending hearing of their murder case on grounds that bail is their Constitutional right and that they will not interfere with police investigations.

According to the accused, they are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and have permanent places of residence within the court's jurisdiction.

Prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on November 26, 2016 at Masanafu trading centre, Rubaga division in the Kampala district the accused and others still at large murdered Maj. Kiggundu and his body guard Sgt.Mukasa.

They were charged with murder contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act (PCA). The offence carries a maximum sentence of death on conviction.

According to court documents Mwanje, 50, was arrested over his earlier "utterances" threatening Kiggundu's life while Buyondo, Ssendegeya and Ssekandi are accused of conspiracy to commit the offence.

Status of the main case

Last Friday, Buganda Road court Chief Magistrate Jameson Karemani adjourned the mention of their case to April 7, 2017 for after state prosecutor Emilly Ninsiima informed court that inquiries in the matter were still ongoing.