Eight terror suspects committed to High Court

By Farooq Kasule

Presiding Grade One Magistrate Mary Kaitesi has committed eight Somali nationals accused of conspiring to carry out terrorism activities in Uganda to High Court for trial.

Prosecutor, principal state attorney Rachael Bikhole Thursday informed court at Buganda Road Court in Kampala that committal papers were ready.

The suspects are Mohamed Abdulkadir Hirsi, Abdi Abdullahi Bootan, and Hassan Abduwali Mohamoud.

Others are Mohamed Ahmed Gele 23, Yusuf Osman Hussein 29, Abdi Ali, Abdul Kadir Mohamed Mohamud Sandir and Mohamad Yusuf Farah.

They were committed to High Court on the two counts of aiding and abetting terrorism c/s 8 of the anti-terrorism act,2002 and belonging to a terrorist organization c/s 11(1)a of the anti-terrorism act of 2002.

According to the indictment report, last year on September 11, the Uganda Police received intelligence reports that Alshabaab commander, Adam Garar had dispatched terrorists to Uganda.

The indictment indicates that Al shabaab instructed the suspects and others still at large to identify targets in Kampala and Entebbe where the attacks could be simultaneously be carried out.

It is  alleged that they used telephone lines belonging to Abdulkadir and Osman to communicate with the Alshabaab commander, Garar with whom they discussed their intended attacks in Uganda.

They suspects in Uganda were basing at Al-qudus guest house in Kisenyi, Kampala suburb.

Surveillance by the police established that the accused persons were the owners and the users of the said telephone numbers whose importance were to coordinate the intended attacks in Kampala and Entebbe.

Further investigations by the Uganda police established that the accused persons were using motor vehicle Toyota Noah in make with south Sudan registration number plates CE 662x driven by Abduwali in coordinating the planned attacks to Uganda.

Prosecution alleges that between September 2010 and 2014, the suspects and others still at large belonged to Alqaeda/Alshabaab, terrorism organization listed under the anti-terrorism act 2002 laws of Uganda.

The suspects were arrested in September last year and shortly detained at police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at Kireka for interrogations before charged to the Buganda road court.

In the same court, Muhamad Kaweesi 28, a businessman operating at St. Balikuddembe Market and a resident of Kawala was also committed to the High court on two counts terrorism and exploitation by illegally transport people to join terrorist groups in Congo.

Prosecution alleges that on September 2012, by means of exploitation, he transported one Umar Monde, a businessman dealing in ladies garments in Kampala to Congo with intention of attacking Uganda.