19 terror suspects committed to High Court for trial

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Buganda Road Magistrates Court has committed 19 people to the High Court to face trial for terrorism.

They were committed on Wednesday by Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza after the prosecution led by Patricia Cingtho informed the court that the investigations into six charges against them are complete.

The suspects are mobile money operators Yusuf Muwonge alias Hamza Ssemaganda alias Robert Danze and Shamirah Naddamba, Ismail Kiyemba, a welder, Muniru Bogere, a boda boda rider, Eron Nanfuka, a student, Sharon Nakitende, a tailor and Anent Nakato Nakibirango, a housewife.

Others are Zam Naiga, Ismail Matiwa, Huzaifa, Faisal Nadir Nsubuga, Bashir Jjuuko Kiwanuka alias Fred, Mohammed Kisiitu, Hamuza Bakyayita a conductor, Jero Ishaq, a shop attendant, and Twaha Wambedde, an Imam at Kabila Mosque in Nabweru, Nansana municipality in Wakiso district.

The prosecution alleges that the accused persons unlawfully manufactured, placed, and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices-IEDs in Mpigi, Wakiso, and Kampala districts with intention of causing death or serious body injuries and a major economic loss.

They reportedly committed the offenses in 2020 and 2021 for purposes of influencing the government and intimidating the public or a section of the public for political, religious, and socio-economic goals without due regard to the safety of others or property.

Also among the accused is Juliat Nansubuga alias Maama Bumali, a Tanzanian national and hawker/artist, Faisal Muwonge, a sales person and businesswoman Jalia Nabukenya.

Cingtho asked court to forward the file to the High Court for the accused persons to be tried there since there cases are capital in nature.

According to the state, they have sufficient evidence in form of call data and phone records showing that all the accused persons were in constant communication with the three suicide bombers. These include Isaac Matovu who blew himself up in a Swift bus, Uthman Mansur who killed himself at CPS Kampala and Abudallah Wanjusi who blew himself up at the IPS building where scores of people were injured and others left dead on November 16, 2021.

Other pieces of evidence include several exhibits such as telephone handsets, flash discs, DVDs, CDs, chemical electronic components that were recovered from Kiyemba, a self-confessed IED technician from Lweza.

The suspects followed proceedings via zoom link connecting to Kigo prison where they have been on remand since December 2021.

The High Court is set to fix a date when the case will be heard.

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