Power blackout in Court
Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court was comNakawa Chief Magistrates Court was compelled to adjourn to Thursday next week a committal hearing involving eight suspects behind the attempted assassination of Gen Katumba Wamala over a power shortage.
The suspects were supposed to appear before the presiding Magistrate on Wednesday via zoom from various prison facilities, to continue with the committal proceedings.
Grade one Magistrate Odwori Ponsiano first adjourned the session for over one hour while waiting for the power to return in vain, he later adjourned the court to January 20th, 2022.
State Attorney Barbara Kyomugisha, asked for an adjournment after presenting a committal which was defective under the law.
The accused persons face charges related to terrorism, murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, rendering services to a terrorist group, the Allied Democratic Forces, financing terrorism activities, and belonging to a terrorist organization. The suspects first appeared in the court on five charges including the attempted murder of General Katumba Wamala, his bodyguard Sergent Khalid Kuboit and Boniface Mucunguzi.
Power blackout in Court
Relatives to the accused had kept time and most of them were seen distressed over court delay in handling the suspects.
Godfrey Turyamusiima, one of the lawyers representing the accused says next time court sits they are ready to apply for their clients bail.Turyamusiima had first asked for a shorter adjournment, arguing that their clients have been in detention for more than the mandatory six months without trial.
Shortly after that there was information posted on Umeme social media platforms indicating that areas surrounding Nakawa are experiencing a blackout due to a faulty powerline.
The suspects are Yusuf Siraje Nyanzi, Hussein Sserubula, Muhammad Kagugube, Sirimani Kisambira, Abudullah Aziz Ramadhan, Dunka, Kamada Walusimbi, Habib Ramadhan Marjan and Huzaifah Wampa. The suspects were expected to appear before Odwori on Wednesday via zoom from various prison facilities to continue with the committal proceedings.
Gen Katumba and three others survived a shooting along Kisota road in Kisasi, a Kampala City Suburb on June 1 2021, in which his daughter, Brenda Nantongo, and his driver Sergent Haruna Kayondo died.
By Rashidah Nakaayi
