The International Crimes Division of the High Court Judge Elizabeth Kabanda has remanded to Luzira Prison nine Rwandan nationals arrested on terrorism charges.
The suspects are Emmanuel Mugisha alias Byekwaso alias Mukisa, Pastor Musonyu Geoffrey alias Papa Sheema Elisaha , Daniel Kamara, Moses Bijura, Timothy Mukisa , Tuyisenge Zanviye alias Mambo Ali, Olive Byakatonda alias Ojambo Kenneth, Bosco Manirihi alias Boyi alias Kigwe Robert, Innocent Ndayisenga alias Gashube.
It is alleged that the accused persons traveled outside Uganda for the purpose of perpetrating, planning, or preparing to participate in terrorism acts such as providing or receiving terrorist training for political, religious, social, and economic gain without due regard to the safety of others or property.
Some of the accused persons and others still at large in various places also allegedly forged documents of certificates of identity with the intent to deceive or defraud.
The accused persons appeared before Justice Kabanda on Wednesday who told them that she could not continue with their trial on grounds that she has been transferred to the Family Criminal Division of the High Court.
Kabanda adjourned the case to September 22nd 2022 for mention before another Judge.
Earlier, the Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo, who was representing Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko told Court that they are ready with their evidence and asked for time to disclose it to the accused persons and their lawyers.
In response lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima, the lawyer representing the accused persons did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
The group was arrested on December 11th, 2017, and charged with terrorism, forgery, and establishment of a terrorist institution together with 36 others majority of whom were Rwandan nationals and a few Burundians.
Last month, the group asked the Court to dismiss the charges against them on the basis that they have spent five months on remand without trial. Court heard that this indicated that the Prosecutors are not willing to prosecute them and as such, they should be set free and charges dismissed. But the DPP was today expected to respond to this application.
The lawyer of the accused Turyamusiima said that they have been served with the evidence against their clients and they are going to go through it and prepare their defense.
