Uganda: City bomb suspects case stalls as DPP appoints new attorney

The case in which seven Somali nationals accused of aiding Islamic militants al-Shabab to carry out a second bomb attack in Kampala has been delayed.

Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appointed a new state attorney to handle the file.

The suspects had appeared before Judge Elizabeth Nahamya of the International Crimes Division of the High Court for the conclusion of the pre-trial conferencing of their case. But they were told the case could not be heard because the file had been reallocated to another state attorney who was yet to review it.

The new state attorney, Mr John Baptist Asiimwe, told court: “…From the record, I do not know to what extent the disclosure of evidence was made but since all the lawyers are present today, I will avail them with all the necessary documents within the 15 days as required by law. However, there are some explosives that are still with the police.”

The accused include Mohamed Abdulkadir Hirsi, alias Mohamed Abdul Aziz Adan, Abdi Abdullahi Bootan, Hassan Abduwali Mohamoud, Mohamed Ahmed Gele, Abdi Ali, Abdul Kadir and Mohamad Yusuf Farah, among others.

The case

Charges. Prosecution states that the group and others still at large in September 2014, in various places in Uganda, Kenya and Somalia, aided the al-Shabaab in connection with preparation and commission of acts of terrorism.
Postponed. The trial judge adjourned the case to January 30, 2017, for a short pre-trial conferencing and pre-trial hearing.

Daily Monitor