Hearing of the case where 14 people said to have masterminded the murder of two Muslim clerics; Shiekh Mustafa Bahiga and Hassan Kirya before three justices of the international crimes Division of the High court has been stood over for a period of three weeks due to financial constraints.
On appearing before these three justices Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Percey Tuhaise and Jane Kiggundu one of the state Attorneys in the matter Linno Anguzu informed court that they need ample time to solve the financial matter that has barred most of their witnesses from turning up in court as earlier requested.
“My lord we pray that court help us to get facilitation from the Registrar of court because we had talked to the registrar about this matter and we were promised to be helped but we have not received the
funds”
Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi assured the prosecution that he has already talked to the registrar and this facilitation will be availed to them in a period of three weeks.
Before this submission two prosecution witnesses who include a police surgeon based Uganda Police Medical headquarters in Nsambya and a mosque guard at Bwebajja had already testified in court making the number of prosecution witnesses to increase to eight.
The police surgeon whose names are withheld informed court that he carried out medical examination on seven accused persons and found out that they were in a normal health condition.
“Between 18th January and 1st March 2015 I received requests from Kajjansi Police station and Kampala Metroploitan South to examine the mental status of 7 suspects which I did” says the Doctor.
He noted that the seven were Ssekayanja Abdulsalam, Ssematimba Adul Hamid Mubiru, Rashid Jjingo, Twaha Sekitto, Yusuf Kakande, Musa Isa Mubiru and Sheikh Siraje Kawooya; a brother to key suspect and leader of tabliq Muslim section Sheikh Yunus Kamoga.
The doctor told court that upon a thorough examination of the accused at Kireka police health centre11, he found out that they were all of a normal mental status with no physical injuries except for Sheikh Siraje Kawooya who was emotionally distressed and agitated.
The medical reports containing the medical checkup findings have been admitted to court as exhibits since none of the defense counsels has objected to it.
Another witness who was a guard near the mosque where Sheikh Mustafah Bahiga was shot to death also told court that he witnessed two men who were on the bodaboda that stopped and fired twice at the car in which sheikh Bahiga was and claimed his life.
However when askedby defense lawyers led by Mac Dusman Kabega and Fred Muwema whether he knew the culprits or to have noticed the number plate of the motorcycle, he replied that he couldn’t recognize them.
The further hearing of the matter has been adjourned up to 21st November 2016.
Prosecution contends that the leader of tabliq sect, Sheikh Mohammed Yunusu Kamoga with 13 others and others still at large between December 2013 and June 2014 at various places in Kampala with malice
aforethought unlawfully caused the death of two sheikhs, Sheikh Mustafah Bahiga who was shot to death at Bwebajja