A panel of three justices led by Ezekiel Muhanguzi unanimously agreed that prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant defence from the remanded leader of the Tabliq Sect, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga, and other accused persons in regard to systematic murders of rival Muslim leaders..
Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi, the lead judge on the three-member panel of the High Court’s International Crimes Division, said there was sufficient evidence to warranteach of the accused persons to defend themselves in the case.
“The prosecution has established a prema-facie case against each of them in respect of each of the four counts. Consequently, court passing on section 73 (2) of the Trial and Indictments Act, hereby informs the accused persons of their rights to give evidence on his or her own behalf, make unsworn statement or to call witnesses in his or her defence. That is the ruling,” the judge said.
Court adjourned the trial to April 25 for the accused to defend themselves.
They were returned to Luzira and Kigo prisons for further remand.
The case
The case involves 14 men, who are accused of being behind the wave of killings of top Muslim clerics in the country two years ago.
Some of the killed clerics include; Sheikh Bahiga, who was gunned down at Bwebajja mosque along Entebbe Road and Sheikh Kirya, who was gunned down in Bweyogerere, Wakiso District.
The suspects are also accused of threatening to kill Buganda Prince Kassim Nakibinge and Dr Haruna Jemba
The alleged crimes happened between December 2013 and June 2015 in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.
