Kaweesi suspects' pre-trial pushed to August 17

KAWEESI |  COURT | POLICE

The International Crimes Division of the High Court has deferred to August 17, the pre-trial hearing of a case in which eight men are accused of complicity in the murder of former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi.

Pre-trial judge Duncan Gaswaga ordered prosecution and the defence lawyers to file presumed preliminary objections and relevant applications in regard to the trial before August 17 when the pre-trial hearing of the matter is slated to kick off.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Lino Anguzu told NewVision that they intend to make an application for prosecution witness protection while Anthony Wameli disclosed that defence team application rotates around the validity of the trial.

 Defence lawyers are opposed to the trial of the accused on grounds that they were tortured making their trial a nullity.

 Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, Geoffrey Turyamusiima and Stephen Ssenkeezi are the other defence lawyers.

In October 2017, court awarded the suspects a total of sh1.7b after it ruled that they were tortured on arrest.

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

He was murdered a few meters away from his residence while heading to Uganda Christian University in Mukono for a meeting.

A total of 22 suspects were arraigned in court following his gruesome murder but only eight were committed to the High Court to stand trial. 

They 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.

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 the murder of Kaweesi.

It further alleges the accused used a gun or a deadly weapon and robbed Erau a rifle SMG serial number POL 56-3686844-04683 and a pistol serial number UG.POL 007315.