Assessors in Muslim terror case ask court to acquit suspects

Kampala,Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The three court assessors in the terror case against 14 people accused of being behind the murder of Muslim Clerics in the country, on Tuesday advised the International Crimes Division Court to acquit them.

Amir Umar Sheikh Mohammed Yunus Kamoga and 13 others are in court for the alleged murder of fellow Muslim sheikhs, terrorism and attempted murder.

Robert Lubega Sseguya, Judith Muhairwe and Muhammad Ddumba told court that Prosecution has failed to prove the said charges against any of the accused persons to warrant a conviction.

The assessors in their joint opinion observed that prosecution’s evidence is marred with incosistences, and dismissed as false late sheikh Bahiga’s dying declaration that it was Sheikh Kamoga who had killed him.

Their opinion is not biding on the judges in this case.

Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Justice Percey Tuhaise and Justice Jane Kiggundu received the assessors verdict and said that they will give their judgement on August 11, 2017.

Sheikhs Mustafa Bahiga and Hassan Ibrahim Kirya were gunned down between December 2014 and June 2015 respectively.