The state has presented 150 pieces of evidence to prosecute seven individuals accused of murdering former Police Spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his bodyguard Kenneth Erau and Driver, Godfrey Wambewo in Kulambiro in Nakawa division in Kampala on March 17, 2017.
The trio was gunned down by men riding on numberless motorcycles shortly after exiting Kaweesi’s home. The seven suspects are Joshua Kyambadde Magezi alias Abdu Rahaman, Shafiq Kasujja, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Masiga Jimmy Ogutu, and Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha, who are out on bail.
The other two suspects, Yusuf Nyanzi Siraje alias Ssentamu Jimmy, Aramazan Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdallazack, and Abdurashid Mbazira alias Buyondo Muhammed, are on remand on different terror-related charges. They were charged with murder, aggravated robbery, terrorism, and aiding and abetting terrorism.
The accused appeared before lady Justice Alice Komuhangi on Tuesday for a pretrial hearing. The prosecution led by Lillian Omara submitted physical and documentary evidence to the court they intend to use for a trial. The evidence includes statements the accused individuals made at different police stations, witness statements from police officers, and those that were seen by both parties during the physical inspection in Naguru.
The 150 pieces of evidence have been marked in court for easy identification and will be used against the suspects should the court confirms the charges against them. The evidence includes the police vehicle in which, the deceased individuals were traveling, bullets recovered from the scene of the crime, projectiles, phones, SIM cards, an AK-47, a motorcycle, and the stained clothes of the slain police officers.
Omara said that this was the end of disclosing the evidence and requested at least two weeks to start the pretrial hearing. She noted that one of the accused persons, Shafiq Kasujja, has not been attending court despite several criminal summonses. She indicated that she needed to find out from the police why they were not serving the summons to Kasujja. The defense lawyer, Geoffrey Turyamusiima didn’t raise any objection to the exhibits brought before the court, adding that he physically participated in the inspection of some of the exhibits.
During the pretrial hearing, Yusuf Nyanzi, one of the suspects asked the court to halt the trial, claiming that he and his co-accused had been tortured. However, the judge advised him to talk to his lawyer to make a formal application, which could be admitted to court record appropriately. Justice Komuhangi adjourned the case to April 18, 2023, and extended the criminal summons to Kasujja.
Nyanzi is also implicated in three files containing capital offenses and high-profile murders. He was first arrested in early 2017 for the murder of Kaweesi, his bodyguard, and driver. He was later charged with the murder of Major Muhammad Kiggundu and his bodyguard Sergeant Steven Mukasa on November 26, 2016, in Masanafu, a Kampala city suburb.
Barely a year after his release on bail, by Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe, security personnel rearrested Nyanzi from his home in Kisaasi Kyanja in connection with the attempted murder of Works and Transport Minister, General Edward Katumba Wamala, and the murder of his daughter, Brenda Nantongo Wamala, and driver, Haruna Kayondo on June 1, 2021. He is still on remand to date.
