Mukulu adds three lawyers to battle court charges

PIC: Mukulu (handcuffed) is facing trial over his alleged rebel activities against the government of Uganda. (File photo)

KAMPALA - The alleged former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel leader, Jamil Mukulu, facing trial over his alleged rebel activities against the government of Uganda has hired three more prominent city lawyers to defend him.

This brings the number of lawyers representing Mukulu to five. Laywers, Nsubuga Mubiru, Musa Bbale and Robert Fredrick Kalule join Caleb Alaka and Evans Ochieng represent Mukulu at the next hearing.

On Tuesday, the lawyers were introduced to the pre-trial Judge, Eva Luswata at the High Court's International Crimes Division (ICD) by Ochieng.

"My lord, Mukulu (A19) has got three more lawyers on board. Therefore, court should take note of that," Ochieng submitted.

The judge ordered the lawyers to submit their letters of instruction to represent Mukulu to the ICD Deputy Registrar, Harriet Lukwago by August 17 to avoid being disowned when the actual trial kicks-off.  

Luswata also directed the state and the defence team to meet on August 22, at the Directorate of Public Prosecution board room to come up with agreed facts in regard to evidence against Mukulu.

In regard to torture allegation in the prison facility by Ali Kabambwe alias Munakenya, the judge advised the defence lawyers to make a formal application within seven days so that the matter can be handled.

"No evidence has been adduced in court in regard to the torture allegations a part from submissions from the bar but if it happened then it is a serious matter.

"The accused should elaborate on the issue in his application," Luswata advised.

Without mentioning the dates, Kabambwe had informed court that he was allegedly tortured by plain-clothes security operatives and coerced him to sign documents in regard to the case.

This, according to Ochieng, is a violation of the law and rights of a prisoner. "The due process of the law must be followed if security operatives want to extract information from any of the accused person."

The judge also ordered the court registrar to send two copies of disclosed evidence to the Prison facilities to enable the accused to understand the charges they are battling in court.

This was after Ochieng informed court that although their interpreters in court, most of the accused do not understand the charges preferred against them and that Prison authorities had denied them access to copies of the summary of the case.

Meanwhile, Principal state Attoney Racheal Bikhole who teamed up with senior state attorney Lilian Omara and State attorney Marion Ben-Bella informed court there is only one agreed fact that Mukulu and two others were extradited from Tanzania.

However, Counsel Nalukoola Luyimbazi, informed court that Asuman Basalirwa and Ogola did not appear in court because they are involved in liberating the MPs who were arrested in Arua Including Kyadondo MP, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

The case was adjourned until September 18 for further conferencing.