The trial of 14 men accused of killing Muslim clerics resumes today at the International Crimes Division of High Court after the judiciary halted it due to lack of funds to facilitate witnesses in this case.
Three weeks ago, lead judge of the High court’s International Crimes Division, Ezekiel Muhanguzi told Court that there was no money to facilitate more witnesses after listening to evidence of eight witnesses on credit.
However, ministry of finance later released 250 million shillings to facilitate the hearing according to judiciary publicist Solomon Muyita.
Initially 60m had been allocated to the trial, and now the Shs 250m addition is expected to be enough to sustain the trial to the very end.
When Justice Muhanguzi made the revelation, some of the suspects offered, through their lawyers, to finance the rest of the trial to avoid extra delays.
However, the three trial justices, Muhanguzi, Percy Tuhaise and Jane Kiggundu, rejected the proposal, citing possible corruption if that were to be allowed.
The suspects, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga, the leader of Tabliq sect, Siraji Kawooya, Murta Mudde Bukenya Fahad Kalungi, Amir Kinene, Hakim Abdulsalam alias Kassim Mulumba, Abdulhamid Sematimba Mubiru, Hamza Kasirye, Twaha Sekitto, Rashid Jingo, Musa Issa Mubiru and George William Iga have requested for Bail, through their lawyers led by Fred Muwema.
The 14 are accused of killing Sheikh Mustafah Bahiga, Sheikh Hassan Kirya, and attempted murder on Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the titular head of the Muslim community in Uganda, Sheikh Haruna Jemba, Najib Ssonko and Mahmood Kibaate.
