Kaweesi suspects' freedom bid pushed to Wednesday

Sep 06, 2019

On Friday, the International Crimes Division of the High Court yet again adjourned their case on grounds that the deputy registrar Stella Atingu who was slated to preside over the matter was indisposed.

CRIME BAIL COURT

KAMPALA-Eight men accused of murdering former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi will have to wait until Wednesday next week to regain temporary freedom.

On Friday, the International Crimes Division of the High Court yet again adjourned their case on grounds that the deputy registrar Stella Atingu who was slated to preside over the matter was indisposed.

The accused are Abdul-Rashid Mbaziira, Aramanzani Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdullazack, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Jimmy Masiga Ogutu, Joshua Magezi Kyambadde alias Abdu Rahman, Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha, Yusuf Siraje Nyanzi alias Jimmy Ssentamu and Shafik Kasujja.

On March 19, 2019, High Court judge Lydia Mugambe released each of them on a non-cash bail of sh150m while their sureties were bonded at sh250m not cash.

However, they are yet to enjoy their temporary freedom. Last month, the group was set free by Mugambe but the prison declined to release them on grounds that they had a production warrant for them arising from Nakawa Chief Magistrate's Court.

According to defence lawyers Anthony Wameli and Godfrey Turyamusiima, Grade One Magistrate Posiono Odwori has since clarified that the order was issued in error.

The group is part of the 23 suspects that were charged with Kaweesi murder and later committed to the High Court on October 23, 2017, to stand trial.

However, their co-accused have since been released on mandatory bail by Nakawa Chief Magistrate's Court pending police investigations.

They are Umar Maganda, Ahmed Ssenfuka, Sheikh Musa Ntende, Hassan Tumusiime, Ibrahim Kissa, Hamid Magambo, Abdul-Majid Ojerere, Sauda Ayub, Osman Muhammed Omar, Asuman Mugoya, Ibrahim Ssemwanga alias superman and Swaleh Ddamulira.

Mandatory bail is granted to capital offenders that spend over six months on remand without committal.

The charge

The prosecution alleges that the group between January and March 2017 in diverse districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Bugiri, Busia, Tororo, and others still at large for purposes of influencing government involved themselves in complicity of the murder of Kaweesi.

Kaweesi was killed in cold blood on March 17, 2017, in the city suburbs of Kulambiro in Nakawa division together with his bodyguard Kenneth Erau and driver Geoffrey Mambewo.

It further alleges that the accused rendered support to Balyejusa and Ogutu, who are alleged known members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group in executing terrorism acts.

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