Five more people charged with murder of Muslim clerics

Five more terror suspects, accused of being part of a group that has been masterminding the killing of Muslim clerics in Uganda have been charged in court, bringing the number to 32, including the leader of the Tabliq leader, Sheikh Mummad Yunus Kamoga.

The suspects, some of whom were arrested and deported from different cities in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday appeared before the Nakawa Chief magistrate, Christine Nantege who read to them six charges related to terrorism, crimes against humanity, murder, and attempted murder.

The other charge is aiding and or rendering support to the Allied Defense Forces (ADF) and associates to be used in acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002.

The accused are Yusuf Sentamu aka Kasibante ,37,a businessman who lives in the city of Dierra-Dubai in the UAE, Robert Bampikye, 47, a businessman dealing in adverts and printing who is a resident of Furij-Mural Street, Dierra in Dubai.

Others are Muhamadi Kalodo alias Kasibante, 44, a driver and resident of Rolla Street, Bar town in Dubai, Musa Isa Mubiru, 44, a resident of Kirokole Zone in Kawempe division in Kampala, Ismail Ssentongo, 41, a salesman with Air and Sea and resident of Khalij Road in Dubai. Ssentongo also has a home in Nakinyuguzi-Kulekaana zone in Makindye division, Kampala.

The magistrate, however, refused the accused to take plea saying her court did not have the jurisdiction. She remanded them to Luzira Prisons until March 10 for mention.

The suspects had been locked up at the Police's Special Investigations Division in Kireka, a Kampala suburb, from where they were taken to court under tight security.

 Some relatives who gathered outside the court cells wept as they bid the suspects farewell with 'Allah Akbar' chants.

Prosecution stated that the accused, together with 27 others including those still at large committed the offences at various places and on different days.

According to the charge sheet, count one states that between December 2014 and June 30, 2015 in Kampala and Wakiso districts, with intent to intimidate the public or sections of the Muslim faith and for a political, religious, social or economic gain, allegedly involved themselves in the murders of Sheikh Hassan Kirya and Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga and attempted to murder Sheikh Dr. Haruna Jjemba.

The second count states that between December 2014 and June 30, 2015 in the same districts, "in a systematic way, the accused directed attacks towards Shia and Tabliq Muslims, which resulted in the murders of Sheikh Kirya and Sheikh Bahiga and attempted murder of Dr. Jjemba".    

On June 30, 2015 at Bweyogerere Trading Center, the charge sheet adds, the accused purportedly murdered Sheikh Kirya, while in count four, on December 28, 2014 at Bwebajja, they allegedly murdered Sheikh Bahiga and on January 3, 2015 at Wattuba in Wakiso district they attempted to cause the death of Sheikh Jjemba.

In the last count, between February 2014 and January 2015 in Nalukolongo, the Eastern and Northern parts of Uganda, the accused allegedly rendered support to ADF and Federal Alliance terrorists, by way of recruiting and training manpower knowing that they would be used in the commission and or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Advocate Paul Mayanja who represented Mubiru asked to expedite the inquiries and set a date for prosecution of the accused and those already on remand.