19 people who are suspected to have manufactured, placed and detonated explosives in Kampala , Wakiso and Mpigi districts in 2021 have been committed to the International Crimes Division of the Highcourt for trial by the Buganda Road Court
This is after Director of Public Prosecutions JaneFrances Abodo informed the trial Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza, that they are ready to bring evidence pinning them.
The suspects are on offences of Terrorism, aiding and abetting terrorism, terrorism financing and belonging to a terrorist organisation.
DPP indicated that she has sufficient evidence of call data and other phone records, showing that the 19 suspects were in communication with the three suicide bombers including Isaac Matovu who blew himself up in a swift bus along Lungala Mpigi, Uthman Manisur at CPS Kampala and Abudallah Wanjusi blew up himself at Jubilee House near Parliament.
The DPP contends in her committal papers that at the trial , she will adduce several exbhits including a blue chest bag containing improvised explosive devices that was recovered from the House of the one suspect Nakato Annet Nakibiringo, who later confessed that it was supposed to be used in March 2022 when panic and fear had relatively calm down amongst the public.
Court further heard that documentary evidence in form of confession statements where the suspects implicated themselves for aiding and abetting terrorism by mainly financing, transporting and harboring terrorists will be tendered in court ,
Police report forms that confirm that survivor victims were treated for injuries caused by pieces of fragments of sharp objects , postmortem reports indicating that the deceased died of explosive objects and that all the 19 suspects are found to be of a sane mind to stand trial will also be produced in court .
The group that include 5 women have followed today’s proceedings on zoom while on remand at Luzira ,Kitalya and Kigo government prisons.
The summary of evidence presented to court by state prosecutor Patricia Cingitho indicated that; between the years 2017 and 2021, the suspects and a one Sharif Kiyimba a key suspect still at large, without any due regard to the safety of other people manufactured, placed and detonated improvised explosives with an intention of causing death and serious injury which resulted into major economic loss.
That the women unlawfully harboured and rendered financial support to the male suspects, well knowing that such support will be used in the commission of terrorism acts .
The DPP further noted, that the accused made these attacks and killings with the intention of instilling fear among the public and later discredit government.
By: Betty Zziwa
