Court rules on Kaweesi suspects bail today

CRIME   KAWEESI MURDER  COURT

KAMPALA-The International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala is today slated to give a ruling on the bail application of eight men accused of  murdering former police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi.

Last week, the group appeared before High Court Judge Lydia Mugambe who heard their bail application but reserved her ruling for today evening (3:00pm).

The applicants are Abdul-Rashid Mbaziira, Aramanzani Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdullazack, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Jimmy Masiga Ogutu, Joshua Magezi Kyambadde alias Abdu Rahman, Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha, Yusuf Siraje Nyanzi alias Jimmy Ssentamu and Shafik Kasujja.

The group is part of the 23 suspects that were charged with Kaweesi murder and later committed to the High Court on October 23, 2017 to stand trial.

Their co-accused have since been granted a mandatory bail by Nakawa Chief Magistrate's Court pending investigations.

The accused through their lawyers Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi and Anthony Wameli wants court to grant them bail on grounds that they need specialised treatment having been tortured on arrest in March 2017.

The other grounds are the likelihood of delay of their trial since the matter is still under investigations yet they are still presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

"My Lord, we invite the court to grant the applicants bail because they need rehabilitation which cannot be done in prison," Rwakafuuzi submitted in court last week.

Each of the accused presented in court three sureties who included their relatives and friends.

Kaweesi was killed in cold blood on March 17, 2017 in the city suburbs of Kulambiro in Nakawa division together with his body guard, Kenneth Erau and driver Geoffrey Mambewo.

Prosecution alleges that the group between January and March 2017 in diverse districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Bugiri, Busia, Tororo and others still at large for purposes of influencing government involved themselves in complicity of murder of Kaweesi.

It further alleges that the accused rendered support to Balyejusa and Ogutu, who are alleged known members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), rebel group in executing terrorism acts.

Also related to this story

Lawyers ask court to dismiss Kaweesi murder case

Kaweesi suspects back in court

Govt appeals sh1.8b award to Kaweesi murder suspects