The international Crimes Division of high court in Kampala has released the 11 Maj. Mohammed Kiggundu murder suspects who had been alleged of masterminding his murder and his body guard in 2016.
Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions has withdrawn terrorism charges against 11 people who were accused of killing Maj Muhammad Kiggundu in 2016 after state losing interest in it.
Maj kiggundu was shot dead alongside his body guard Sgt .Steven Mukasa by men riding on speeding motorcycles at Masanafu near the Northern bypass in wee hours of 2016 while he was a heading for morning radio talk show.
The suspects have been battling charges of aiding and abetting terrorism, belonging or confessing to belong to a terrorist organization and referring support to a terror organization. State Attorney Jackeline Okwir tabled the DPP’s letter withdrawing the charges against the alleged persons before the International Crimes Division Judge David Wangututsi on Thursday afternoon when the matter came up for per-conferencing.
Okwir presented the February 18, 2021 letter in the presence of the suspect’s lawyers, Geoffrey Turyamusiima and Sylvia Namawejje. The accused persons didn’t appear in court because of the restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Shortly after receiving the letter, Justice Wangututsi ordered the immediate release of the accused persons from Luzira prison where they have been since they were remanded in 2017. The suspect’s lawyer, Turyamusiima was happy with the decision but said they sue for the torture of their clients and also seek compensation for malicious prosecution.
Prosecution had alleged that between 2010 and 2017 in various districts, the accused persons aided or abetted terrorism by mobilizing funds, purchasing commodities and harbouring recruits of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terror organization. They reportedly did this while knowing or having reason to believe that the support would be applied or used in preparation or commission of acts of terrorism.
According to the charge sheets, the accused reportedly recruited, trained and transported ADF recruits from Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is also alleged that they belonged belonging to ADF terror group that had a presence in districts such as Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, Bugiri , Busia , Tororo, Masaka and Mbarara among others.
According to the summary of the case, between October and November 2016, police received intelligence information that ADF had deployed its operatives from DRC to coordinate with their agents in Uganda and carry out terrorist attacks targeting high government officials, recruit members into ADF and mobilize funds to support ADF activities among others.
However, the accused persons maintained their innocence.
