Katumba Shooting Suspects Charged with 18 New Offenses
Written by admin on October 1, 2021
Six of the eight the General Edward Katumba Wamala attempted murder suspects face 18 additional charges. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions has amended the charge sheet increasing the charges from 6 to 24.
The suspects are Muhammad Kagugube, Sirimani Kisambira, Abudalllah-Aziz Ramadhan Dunka, Kamada Walusimbi, Habib Ramadhan Marjan and Huzaifah Wampa. The additional charges include murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, rendering services to a terrorist group, financing terrorism activists and belonging to a terrorist organization.
The prosecution alleges that while at Cheap General Hardware, Nansana in Wakiso District on May 29th, 2019, the suspects together with others still at large with malice aforethought unlawfully caused the death of Jimmy Atukuru, Frank Anania, Abaho Frank Mutsinda and Amim Bugembe whom they shot dead.
According to the State on the same date and place the suspects also stole Shillings 385million from Tedrin Nalule, the cashier of Cheap General Hardware. The group has also been charged with the murder of Burton Okoti on April 27th 2019 at City Shoppers Supermarket Kanyanya, Mpererwe, Kawempe Division in Kampala District.
The prosecution contends that after shooting Okoti to death, the accused made off with Shillings 2.2 million from Precious Kayesu and another Shillings 4.5 million from Aisha Nakafeero. The prosecution also alleges that suspects attempted to murder Jalia Nantambi on the same date and at the same venue.
The charges sanctioned by the DPP, Jane Abodo also indicate that while at Denovo Bakery Kalerwe –Kawempe Division in Kampala district on September 16th 2017, the suspect killed five people including Special Police Constables Hussein Mubiru and Moses Kalungi. The other victims were identified as Angello Nantongo, Evarest Hakizza and Edward Ssenyonzi.
The prosecution further alleges that the suspects stole Shillings 34.7 million from Nawal Nakatudde at the same place before attempting to kill her. It is also alleged that between March 2015 and June 2021 while in various places in Kampala, Luweero, Kasese, others in the country and various places in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the suspects and others still at large rendered support to Hussein Lubwama alias Master to commission, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism.
Lubwama was shot dead as the police effected his arrest according to the fallen Deputy Inspector General of Police, Lt. General Paul Lokech. According to the prosecution, the suspects who are also charged with belonging to Allied Democratic Forces-ADF, which was gazetted as a terror organization, willingly collected funds directly or indirectly by stealing from members of the public with the intention of financing Lubwama or ADF.
After reading the charges for the accused persons, the Nakawa Grade one magistrate Ponsiono Odwori told them not to say anything in relation to the crime, saying that his court lacks jurisdiction over capital offences. As a result, the prosecution led by State Attorney Rose Aoja asked for an adjournment, saying investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
The suspect’s lawyer, Geoffrey Turyamusiima didn’t object to the prayers and only asked for an opportunity to speak to his clients who appeared via zoom from Luzira and Kigo prisons. The magistrate remanded the accused person until October 21, 2021.
