Lawyer wants Kasese suspects released

By Wilson Asiimwe 

THE lawyer for the suspects appearing before the General Court Martial on 12 charges of murder and four charges of attempted murder, Godfrey Sibendire, has asked the court to release all the 23 suspects on grounds that prosecution has failed to produce enough evidence to pin them.

In his final submission before court sitting at Rwenzori Square in Kasese town on Wednesday, Sibendire said that all the suspects were arrested on suspicion and that prosecution has failed to link them to the murder charges.

" I ask that this court acquits all the 23 suspects of all the charges and sets them free because it is very clear that they were all arrested on mere suspicion," said Sibendire.

However the prosecution team led by Major Fredrick Kangwamu asked court to adjourn up to Friday when they will make their final submission responding to the concerns raised by the defense lawyer.

"We have just been served one hour ago, and we would like this court to adjourn up to Friday at 9am when we will respond to the concerns raised by the defense lawyer," said Maj. Kangwamu.

The chairman of the military court Maj. Gen. Levy Karuhanga adjourned the case up to Friday when prosecution is expected to give its final submission before the ruling.

The 23 suspects are accused for attacking Bigando parish in Kitswamba Sub County on the July 5, 2014 where they killed 12 Basongora pastoralists and a police officer at the Uganda National Roads Authority weigh bridge on the Kasese-Mbarara highway before fleeing with his gun.