Police fails to produce Kaweesi murder file in court

PIC: From left, murder suspects Hamid Magambo, Hassan Tumusime, Sinani Hibwajji, Ali Mugoya, Yusuf  Ahmad Halal and Ahmad Shaban Senfuka inside Nakawa Court on Tuesday. (Credit: Kennedy Oryema)

KAMPALA - Nakawa Chief Magistrate's Court has adjourned the murder case of former police spokesperson (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi until March 6 after police failed to produce the file in court.

On Tuesday, state attorney Rachael Nabwire requested court to adjourn the case, saying she was not in position to respond to the defense lawyer's intended application since the Police file was not in court.

"I pray that the matter be adjourned until another date because I cannot respond to the application without the Police file," she said.

The matter was presided over by Grade One Magistrate Noah Ssajjabbi.

Prior, defense lawyers, led by Anthony Wameli, wanted to request court to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court on grounds that the terrorism charge slapped on their clients is unconstitutional since it attracts a mandatory death sentence on conviction.

The accused are Musa Abubaker Ntende, Sauda Ayub, Umar Maganda, Ahmada Shaban Ssenfuka, Hassan Tumusiime, Ibrahim Kissa and Hamidu Magambo.

Others are  Abdu-Majid Ojerere, Asuman Mugoya , Kimuli Luutu , Ali Mugoya Byatugo,  Ibrahim Ssemwanga alias superman , Abudallah Khala alias Hibwangi Sinani, Swaleh Ddamulira and Yusuf Ahmed Hilali.

In regard to murder, Prosecution alleges that the group, between January and March 2017 in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Bugiri, Busia, Tororo, and others at large for purposes of influencing government for political or religious aims directly involved, themselves in complicity of the murder of Kaweesi.

Kaweesi was murdered together with his bodyguard Kenneth Erau and driver Geoffrey Mambewo by unknown assailants travelling on motorcycles in the city suburb of Kulambiro, a few metres away from his home.