Kazini family hires lawyer to track case
Nov 30, 2009
THE family of the late Maj. Gen. James Kazini has hired a lawyer to monitor court proceedings in the case against Lydia Draru, the key suspect.
By Charles Ariko
THE family of the late Maj. Gen. James Kazini has hired a lawyer to monitor court proceedings in the case against Lydia Draru, the key suspect.
Draru, 28, alias Atim, was on November 5 charged with murdering Kazini at her home located at Project Zone in Wabigalo, a Kampala suburb.
When Draru re-appeared before court yesterday, a lawyer, Ham Mwebembezi, introduced himself and informed court that he was on a ‘watching brief’ for the Kazini family.
Mwebembezi was one of the lawyers who used to represent the late Kazini when he was on trial before the General Court Martial.
He, however, stopped representing him after the prosecutors had informed the military court that Mwebembezi was not an enrolled advocate at the time.
Only enrolled lawyers with practicing certificates are allowed to defend cases in courts.
It could not be established if Mwebembezi has in the meantime been enrolled as an advocate.
Draru arrived at the Makindye court yesterday morning aboard a prisons bus and was led to the cells by the prison wardresses. She looked disturbed and tense.
Grace Ntege, who represented the State, said the Police was still investigating the murder and asked the court to adjourn the case to another date.
“Investigations are incomplete. You will come back on December 14 for the mention of your case,†said Grade One Magistrate Immaculate Busingye before Draru was led back to the cells.
Like at her previous court appearance, Draru was not represented by a lawyer nor did she have any relatives in court.
Shortly after the murder, Draru ran out of the house and informed boda-boda riders that she had killed her husband.
Later that day, she recorded an extra-judicial statement at the Buganda Road court in which she confessed having hit Kazini three times on the head with an iron bar.
She told the magistrate that she acted in self-defence after Kazini accused her of stealing an unspecified amount of money and tried to strangle her. The two had spent most of the previous night together at different pubs.
Under the Penal Code, murder is punishable by death. However, following a Supreme Court ruling, the death sentence is no longer mandatory.
THE family of the late Maj. Gen. James Kazini has hired a lawyer to monitor court proceedings in the case against Lydia Draru, the key suspect.
Draru, 28, alias Atim, was on November 5 charged with murdering Kazini at her home located at Project Zone in Wabigalo, a Kampala suburb.
When Draru re-appeared before court yesterday, a lawyer, Ham Mwebembezi, introduced himself and informed court that he was on a ‘watching brief’ for the Kazini family.
Mwebembezi was one of the lawyers who used to represent the late Kazini when he was on trial before the General Court Martial.
He, however, stopped representing him after the prosecutors had informed the military court that Mwebembezi was not an enrolled advocate at the time.
Only enrolled lawyers with practicing certificates are allowed to defend cases in courts.
It could not be established if Mwebembezi has in the meantime been enrolled as an advocate.
Draru arrived at the Makindye court yesterday morning aboard a prisons bus and was led to the cells by the prison wardresses. She looked disturbed and tense.
Grace Ntege, who represented the State, said the Police was still investigating the murder and asked the court to adjourn the case to another date.
“Investigations are incomplete. You will come back on December 14 for the mention of your case,†said Grade One Magistrate Immaculate Busingye before Draru was led back to the cells.
Like at her previous court appearance, Draru was not represented by a lawyer nor did she have any relatives in court.
Shortly after the murder, Draru ran out of the house and informed boda-boda riders that she had killed her husband.
Later that day, she recorded an extra-judicial statement at the Buganda Road court in which she confessed having hit Kazini three times on the head with an iron bar.
She told the magistrate that she acted in self-defence after Kazini accused her of stealing an unspecified amount of money and tried to strangle her. The two had spent most of the previous night together at different pubs.
Under the Penal Code, murder is punishable by death. However, following a Supreme Court ruling, the death sentence is no longer mandatory.