On Wednesday, the accused persons appeared before the International Crimes Division of the High Court Judge Elizabeth Kabanda. Kabanda told the suspects that she could not continue with their trial on grounds that she has been transferred to the Family Criminal Division of the High Court.
Nine Rwandan nationals arrested
on terrorism charges have further been remanded to Luzira Prison.
The suspects
are Emmanuel Mugisha alias Byekwaso alias Mukisa, Pastor Musonyu Geoffrey alias
Papa Sheema Elisaha , Daniel Kamara, Moses Bijura, Timothy Mukisa , Tuyisenge
Zanviye alias Mambo Ali, Olive Byakatonda alias Ojambo Kenneth, Bosco Manirihi
alias Boyi alias Kigwe Robert, Innocent Ndayisenga alias Gashube.
It is alleged that the accused persons traveled outside Uganda for the
purpose of perpetrating, planning, or preparing to participate in terrorism
acts such as providing or receiving terrorist training for political, religious, social, and economic gain without due regard to the safety of others or
property.
It is also alleged that
some of the accused persons and others still at large in various places forged
documents of certificates of identity with the intent to deceive or defraud.
On Wednesday,
the accused persons appeared before the International Crimes Division of
the High Court Judge Elizabeth Kabanda. Kabanda told the suspects that she
could not continue with their trial on grounds that she has been
transferred to the Family Criminal Division of the High Court.
Kabanda adjourned the case to September 22nd 2022 for mention
before another Judge.
Earlier, the Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo, who was representing
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko told Court that they
are ready with their evidence and asked for time to disclose it to the accused persons
and their lawyers.
In response
lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima, the lawyer representing the accused persons
did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
The group was arrested on December 11th, 2017, and charged with
terrorism, forgery, and establishment of a terrorist institution together with
36 others majority of whom were Rwandan nationals and a few
Burundians.
Last month, the group asked the Court to dismiss the charges against them
on the basis that they have spent five months on remand without trial. Court
heard that this indicated that the Prosecutors are not willing to prosecute
them and as such, they should be set free and charges dismissed. But the DPP
was today expected to respond to this application.
The lawyer of the accused Turyamusiima said that they have been served with the
evidence against their clients and they are going to go through it and prepare
their defense.
