Three remanded over foiled bomb attack at Lokech funeral

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Three people who allegedly planned to plant a bomb at the funeral of the late Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen. Paul Loketch have been remanded.

The suspects; Rashid Katumba, Najimu Luyenje, and Arafat Kiyemba, on Friday appeared before the Grade One Magistrate Doreen Karungi and were charged with terrorism, unlawful possession of explosives, and belonging to a terrorist organisation contrary to sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002.

The prosecution alleges that on August 26, 2021, Katumba and others still at large while at Atimikica Guest House in Pader district, unlawfully delivered and placed explosives in a public place to cause death or serious bodily injury.

The court at Buganda Road heard that Katumba and others unlawfully had in their possession three pieces of electric detonators, ammonium nitrate, an improvised switch, a jacket, sheet of ball bearings, soldiering wires, jerry cans, pair of pliers and a screw of all materials used for making explosives.

The prosecution further alleges that the suspects and others still at large belonged or professed to belong to the Allied Democratic Forces-ADF which prosecution says is a terrorist organization.

The suspects’ lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima from Wameli and Company Advocates told the court that his clients had been tortured and their bodies bore torture marks. Katumba told the court that he had been taken to several places he didn’t know, and was chained and pepper poured in his eyes.

Katumba says he was wrongfully arrested and that he didn’t know the people he had been charged with.  Turyamusiima asked the court to allow the suspects to display torture marks and be allowed to seek medical care. However, Karungi declined the request.

Turyamusiima told journalists that the suspects were arrested in August and were tortured and told to confess to the crimes.

The suspects were remanded to Kitalya prison until November 19, when they shall return for mention.

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