Convict Magara, assessors advise court
Jun 18, 2009
COURT assessors have advised the High Court to convict Ramadhan Magara for allegedly killing two people when he fired at a crowd in Bulange, Mengo in 2006.
By Edward Anyoli
COURT assessors have advised the High Court to convict Ramadhan Magara for allegedly killing two people when he fired at a crowd in Bulange, Mengo in 2006.
“After examining the evidence, I am convinced that the accused is guilty. I advise the court to convict him as charged,†one assessor, Fred Nsereko, said.
His colleague, Ruth Nambalirwa, concurred with him.
They gave their opinion separately without consulting each other a day after the trial judge, Wilson Kwesiga, summed up the case.
Nsereko said he was convinced by the testimony of Isaac Wekoyera, a Police detective deployed at Bulange on the fateful day.
“I found his evidence convincing and it proved the case beyond reasonable doubt,†Nsereko noted.
Wekoyera testified that Magara opened fire at the crowd, killing two people. He said he knew Magara well because he had worked with him while he was the head of local defence forces at Rubaga.
Wekoyera said he was also convinced by the evidence of Lt. Patrick Nyakairu, who testified that he disarmed Magara after the shooting.
Nsereko explained that the evidence of Haruna Byamukama, who was allegedly shot by Maraga but survived, was also good ground to convict Magara.
Byamukama told the court that he saw Magara get out of his car and started shooting, shortly before realising that he had been shot. He is now crippled and moves in a wheelchair.
Nambalirwa said the prosecution proved murder beyond reasonable doubt.
She noted that the prosecution had proved that Magara had malice aforethought about the deceased.
Under Section 189 of the Penal Code, any person found guilty of murder is liable to death. Attempted murder carries life imprisonment.
The incident occurred while FDC president Col. Kiza Besigye visited the Katikiiro, Dan Muliika, at Bulange a few days to the presidential elections.
Magara, who was attached to the resident district commissioner, Fred Bamwine’s office, attempted to drive through the crowd, but was blocked prompting him to allegedly fire at crowd. He denied the charges. The judgement will be delivered next Wednesday.
COURT assessors have advised the High Court to convict Ramadhan Magara for allegedly killing two people when he fired at a crowd in Bulange, Mengo in 2006.
“After examining the evidence, I am convinced that the accused is guilty. I advise the court to convict him as charged,†one assessor, Fred Nsereko, said.
His colleague, Ruth Nambalirwa, concurred with him.
They gave their opinion separately without consulting each other a day after the trial judge, Wilson Kwesiga, summed up the case.
Nsereko said he was convinced by the testimony of Isaac Wekoyera, a Police detective deployed at Bulange on the fateful day.
“I found his evidence convincing and it proved the case beyond reasonable doubt,†Nsereko noted.
Wekoyera testified that Magara opened fire at the crowd, killing two people. He said he knew Magara well because he had worked with him while he was the head of local defence forces at Rubaga.
Wekoyera said he was also convinced by the evidence of Lt. Patrick Nyakairu, who testified that he disarmed Magara after the shooting.
Nsereko explained that the evidence of Haruna Byamukama, who was allegedly shot by Maraga but survived, was also good ground to convict Magara.
Byamukama told the court that he saw Magara get out of his car and started shooting, shortly before realising that he had been shot. He is now crippled and moves in a wheelchair.
Nambalirwa said the prosecution proved murder beyond reasonable doubt.
She noted that the prosecution had proved that Magara had malice aforethought about the deceased.
Under Section 189 of the Penal Code, any person found guilty of murder is liable to death. Attempted murder carries life imprisonment.
The incident occurred while FDC president Col. Kiza Besigye visited the Katikiiro, Dan Muliika, at Bulange a few days to the presidential elections.
Magara, who was attached to the resident district commissioner, Fred Bamwine’s office, attempted to drive through the crowd, but was blocked prompting him to allegedly fire at crowd. He denied the charges. The judgement will be delivered next Wednesday.