By Rachael Najjuma
28th March 2023
The state has completed adducing 150 pieces of exhibits they intend to rely on to pin seven people accused of the murder of former Police Spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
Kaweesi was shot dead together with his bodyguard, Kenneth Erau, and driver, Godfrey Mambewa on March 17, 2017, in Kulambiro in Nakawa Division in Kampala.
Seven suspects were arrested and charged with murder, aggravated robbery, terrorism, and aiding and abetting terrorism following the death of the trio.
The suspects are Joshua Kyambadde Magezi alias Abdu Rahaman, Shafiq Kasujja, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Masiga Jimmy Ogutu, and Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha who are out on bail.
Others are Yusuf Nyanzi Siraje alias Ssentamu Jimmy, Aramazan Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdallazack and Abdurashid Mbazira alias Buyondo Muhammed who are on remand on different terror-related charges.
On Tuesday, the matter came up for further pretrial hearing and the prosecution led by Lillian Omara tabled 150 pieces of evidence that included physical and documentary exhibits.
The exhibits have now been marked in court for easy purposes of identification which will later be admitted and used against the suspects, should the court confirm charges against them in the future.
The exhibits included documentary evidence of statements from the accused persons made at different police stations, witness statements from police officers, and those that were seen by both parties during the physical inspection in Naguru.
These are, the Police vehicle in which the deceased persons were moving in, bullets recovered from the scene of crime, projectiles, phones, sim cards, an AK 47, a Motorcycle, and stained clothes of the officers who were gunned down among others.
After tendering them before Court, Omara said this was the end of disclosing the evidence they have and asked to be given at least two weeks to start the pretrial hearing.
She said this was because one of the accused persons, Shafiq Kasujja, has not been attending court, despite several criminal summons issued against him in the recent past. Omara indicated that she needed to find out from the Police why they were not serving the summons to Kasujja.
The suspects’ lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima had no objection to the marking of exhibits brought before the Court adding that he physically participated in the inspection of some of the exhibits.
Meanwhile one of the suspects Nyanzi asked the court to halt the trial saying he was tortured together with his co-accused. However, the Judge interjected and advised him to talk to his lawyer to make a formal application which can later be admitted to court record appropriately.
Justice Komuhangi later adjourned the case to April 18th, 2023, and further extended criminal summons to Kasujja.
Nyanzi also appears in three files containing capital offenses and high-profile murders.
He was first arrested in early 2017, on charges of killing the former Police Spokesperson Kaweesi, his bodyguard, and driver.
He was later charged with the murder of Major Muhammad Kiggundu and his bodyguard Sergeant Steven Mukasa on November 26th, 2016 in Masanafu, a Kampala city suburb.
Barely a year after his release on bail by Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe, security personnel rearrested Nyanzi from his home in Kisaasi Kyanja in connection with the attempted murder of Works and Transport Minister, General Edward Katumba Wamala and the murder of his daughter Brenda Nantongo Wamala and driver, Haruna Kayondo on June 1st, 2021.
He is still on remand to date.
Next:
Previous:
