Tycoon Abid Alam's case deferred to September 19

KAMPALA - The trial of businessman Abid Alam, who is accused of conspiracy to defeat the course of justice regarding Kassanda land violence has been pushed to September 19.

Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate, Joan Ketty Acaa deferred the case on Wednesday after the State Attorney, Janat Kitimbo informed the court that inquiries into the matter were still ongoing.

"Your worship, investigations in this matter are still ongoing, we pray that adjournment is made to enable us to complete the same," Kitimbo said.

This prompted the Magistrate to adjourn the case to September 19, 2020, for mention. The suspects' bail was extended until then.

Abid Alam and his co-accused, SP Wilberforce Osteen Wanyama 40, a police officer attached to Wamala Regional Police Headquarters, are charged with conspiracy to defeat justice.  

The offence, in particular, elicits a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment on conviction.

It should be noted that earlier last month, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP, Jane Frances Abodo, withdrew charges without stating reasons against three police officers who were prior charged together with the duo.

These were ASP Peter Beitera Muhanuzi 39, ASP Daniel Robert Ogwellan 59 and Sgt. Wilson Azale 46.

The arrest

The duo was in April arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit led by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema following torture and violence committed in Kassanda where a gang of men attached to Alam, allegedly gang-raped a woman, robbed property, made off with people's animals and destroyed property.

The charges

Prosecution alleges that on April 8, 2020, between Mityana and Ntinda in Kampala, Wanyama conspired with Alam to defeat the course of justice.

It is further contended that Wanyama unlawfully released confidential information in Police file number CRB 234/220 to Abid, a suspect in the matter. This according to the prosecution contravened the Police's standing orders and Standard Operating Procedures.