Kampala, Uganda | URN | Two suspects have been remanded to Kitalya Government Prison on charges of murdering the daughter and the driver of Transport and Works Minister General Katumba Wamala.
The two are Hussein Ismael Sserubula alias Imam Muto, a boda boda rider and a resident of Nakuwadde, Nakabugo, Bulenga in Wakiso district and Sheik Yusuf Nyanzi Siraji, a herbalist and a resident of Kyanja village, Nakawa division in Kampala district.
The duo has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court presided over by the Chief Magistrate Dr Douglas Singiza Karekona.
Court heard that the two accused persons and others still at large on June 1st 2021, at Kisaasi central zone in Kampala district murdered Brenda Katumba Nantongo and Sergent Haruna Kayondo.
Nantongo was a daughter to Katumba Wamala while Kayondo was his driver with whom they were shot dead along Kisota road in Kisaasi by unknown gunmen moving on motorcycles.
On the same day, General Katumba Wamala survived the murder attempt and walked away with gun shot injuries from which he is still recovering.
The court has also charged the accused persons with Katumba Wamala’s attempted murder according to the charge sheet obtained from the Judiciary Public Relations Officer Jameson Karemani.
Karemani said that the two accused persons were not allowed to say anything to the charges since this was a capital offense that attracts a maximum of the death sentence upon conviction, which can only be tried by the High Court.
Instead, Karemani says the duo that has appeared in court without legal representation has been remanded up till August 3, 2021, as investigations continue.
The prosecution was being represented by State Attorney Barbara Kyomugisha.
One of the accused persons Yusuf Nyanzi is not knew to the press and charges of murder.
Nyanzi who was rearrested on June 16th 2021 has today been arraigned in court for allegedly murdering now a seventh person.
The five others whom the government alleges that he murdered are: Uganda People’s Defense Forces officer Major Muhammad Kiggundu with his body guard Sergent Steven Mukasa who were shot dead on November 26th 2016 at Masanafu, a Kampala suburb, and former Police Spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi together with his bodyguard Godfrey Mambewa alongside driver Kenneth Erau who were also gunned down in Kulambiro in Kisaasi, Nakawa division on March 17th 2017.
President Yoweri Museveni had previously stated that the people who killed Major Kiggundu used the same guns in the Katumba shooting.
However, Nyanzi who maintains his innocence on the two files had previously been granted bail by the then International Crimes Division Judge Lydia Mugambe, and by the time of his re-arrest, he had enjoyed temporary freedom of more than a year and half, having been given bail in late 2019.
Read Also: Gen. Katumba gets daily updates on his attempted murder investigation
Nyanzi’s production in court today also follows an application filed by his lawyers led by Godfrey Turyamusiima who were demanding for his unconditional release on grounds that he had spent more than the mandatory 48 hours in jail which was illegal, yet he had not been produced before any competent court to be told why he was being held for that long as the law stipulates.
But Nyanzi has been arraigned before the Nakawa Magistrates Court at the same time when the head of the Civil Division Justice Musa Ssekaana was expected to hear this very application demanding for his unconditional release.
Speaking to URN on phone, Nyanzi’s lawyer Turyamusiima has said these are the normal games played by the state which they are used to. He added that as lawyers, they will proceed to file an application for bail on his behalf.
