DPP takes over Ecweru’s case
Oct 04, 2008
THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has taken over the prosecution of the case in which state minister for disaster preparedness Musa Ecweru is accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl and impregnating her.
By Charles Ariko and Edward Anyoli
THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has taken over the prosecution of the case in which state minister for disaster preparedness Musa Ecweru is accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl and impregnating her.
As a result, court proceedings against Ecweru have been suspended for one month to allow the DPP investigate the case.
Meanwhile, the complainant and the victim failed to turn up for yesterday’s court session.
The case is a private prosecution. It is based on an affidavit sworn by Steven Okiror, the alleged victim’s father who identified himself as a relative to Ecweru’s late wife.
However, Ecweru in a press conference this week said he did not know a relative by the name of Stephen Okiror or the victim named in the charge sheet. Relatives of his late wife he paraded also denied knowing about the case.
Caroline Nabaasa, the state attorney attached to Buganda Road Court, yesterday told the court that she had received instructions from the DPP to take over the matter.
“The DPP has also instructed that the criminal summons be suspended on grounds that the matter was not properly investigated. The DPP will advise on the next course of action,†Nabaasa said.
Last week, Buganda Road Court issued criminal summons for Ecweru on allegations that he had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl at his residence in Namuwongo, Kampala in September last year and made her pregnant.
Ecweru says he has not received the summons.
Nevertheless, Ecweru’s lawyer, Musa Ssekaana, yesterday morning turned up at Buganda Road Court.
Two lawyers of the Federation of Women lawyers (FIDA) represented the victim.
When Chief Magistrate Margaret Tibulya asked whether the victim and the complainant were present, the FIDA lawyers looked around only to establish that they were not.
Before adjourning, Tibulya gave the DPP up to November 3 to investigate the matter.
Asked why they failed to produce the victim, Anne Ampire of FIDA said: “We have been in touch with her since Thursday. This morning we talked to her but we don’t know why she is not here.â€
She stressed that FIDA was interested in ensuring that justice was done. “Since the DPP has taken over the matter so as to carry out further investigation, we are going to wait and see what happens next.â€
Ecweru has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as a plot by his political opponents to damage his reputation. He told Parliament on Thursday that he was ready to go for a DNA test to prove his innocence.
THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has taken over the prosecution of the case in which state minister for disaster preparedness Musa Ecweru is accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl and impregnating her.
As a result, court proceedings against Ecweru have been suspended for one month to allow the DPP investigate the case.
Meanwhile, the complainant and the victim failed to turn up for yesterday’s court session.
The case is a private prosecution. It is based on an affidavit sworn by Steven Okiror, the alleged victim’s father who identified himself as a relative to Ecweru’s late wife.
However, Ecweru in a press conference this week said he did not know a relative by the name of Stephen Okiror or the victim named in the charge sheet. Relatives of his late wife he paraded also denied knowing about the case.
Caroline Nabaasa, the state attorney attached to Buganda Road Court, yesterday told the court that she had received instructions from the DPP to take over the matter.
“The DPP has also instructed that the criminal summons be suspended on grounds that the matter was not properly investigated. The DPP will advise on the next course of action,†Nabaasa said.
Last week, Buganda Road Court issued criminal summons for Ecweru on allegations that he had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl at his residence in Namuwongo, Kampala in September last year and made her pregnant.
Ecweru says he has not received the summons.
Nevertheless, Ecweru’s lawyer, Musa Ssekaana, yesterday morning turned up at Buganda Road Court.
Two lawyers of the Federation of Women lawyers (FIDA) represented the victim.
When Chief Magistrate Margaret Tibulya asked whether the victim and the complainant were present, the FIDA lawyers looked around only to establish that they were not.
Before adjourning, Tibulya gave the DPP up to November 3 to investigate the matter.
Asked why they failed to produce the victim, Anne Ampire of FIDA said: “We have been in touch with her since Thursday. This morning we talked to her but we don’t know why she is not here.â€
She stressed that FIDA was interested in ensuring that justice was done. “Since the DPP has taken over the matter so as to carry out further investigation, we are going to wait and see what happens next.â€
Ecweru has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as a plot by his political opponents to damage his reputation. He told Parliament on Thursday that he was ready to go for a DNA test to prove his innocence.