Court Grants Bail to Kaweesi Murder Suspects who were Rearrested Over Terrorism

Nakawa grade one magistrate, Noah Sajjabi has Tuesday morning granted bail to three people accused of terrorism and murdering former Police spokesperson, AIGP Felix Kaweesi.

The three who have been released on a Shs 2 million cash bail are Umar Maganda, Abdulah Kala and Shaban Senfuka.

The five persons also including Ali Mugoya and Sinani Hibwangi were produced in court on Tuesday and slapped fresh charges of involvement with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group. Their lawyer, Anthony Wameli later applied for bail which the prosecution contested.

But the magistrate overruled state prosecutor, Rachel Nabwiire’s objection that the sureties lacked introduction letters from their areas of residence.

“This court is very well aware that the offences against the applicants are very serious in nature and capable of threatening well being of all Ugandans but court has found sureties of A3 to A5 substantial,” the magistrate ruled.

The sureties to the suspects have been ordered to sign a bond of Shs 500 million since the matter against them is of a serious nature.

As part of the bail terms, the accused will report to District Police Commanders of their areas every second Friday of the month and the commanders are required to send to court periodical reports showing their compliance.

Two of the accused have not been released since one of them, Ali Mugoya lacked substantial sureties and Hibwaagi’s sureties had not arrived at court during the court session.

They took a fresh plea at the request of the state prosecutor Rachel Nabwiire who was away on prosecutors’ strike by the time they were first charged.

Since investigations in the matter are still underway the matter has been adjourned to January 23 for mention.

The five suspects were rearrested shortly after being released on bail together with their coaccused. The army would later claim the suspects were suspected to be part of ADF.

Meanwhile, the relatives of these acussed persons were still stuck at court as they search for money to bail out their relatives.

Prosecution alleges that the five suspects between 2006 and April 2017 in Uganda and DRC confessed to belonging to the ADF a terrorist group, contrary to the Anti Terrorism Act 2002.

In March last year, former Police spokesperson, Felix Kaweesi was shot and killed by assailants while he drove from his home in Kulambiro outside Kampala together with his bodyguard and driver.