KAMPALA–Fresh charges have been brought up against three suspects in the murder of former police spokesperson Felix Kaweesi.
The new charges were read to court as the suspects appeared for their bail application, having spent six months on remand without being committed to the High Court.
To their dismay, the presiding Grade One Magistrate Noah Sajjabi informed the three of them that the Director of Public Prosecutions Mike Chi had brought new charges of being part of a terrorist group against them.
According to the charges he says he received yesterday, it is alleged that Ali Mugoya, Abudallah Kala and Hibwani Sinani Zikusooka confessed to being part of a terrorist group Al Democratic Forces (ADF) between 2006 and 2007 while operating in various places within Uganda and the DR Congo henceforth charges of murder, aggravated robbery and Terrorism were brought against them.
Such charges can only be tried by the High Court.
Since Nakawa Magistrates court lacks power try these new offences the accused were barred from taking the plea and instead sent back on remand until December 7, 2017.
If not committed to High Court, it will take them six more months on remand before they can apply for bail again.
Moments before the fresh charges, Ali Mugoya and Sinani Zikusooka had been granted bail having clocked the mandatory six months on remand without being committed to High court to face trial.
The other two suspects granted bail and we’re lucky to leave the court premises are; Sauda Ayub and Swaleh Damulira.
The four were granted a non-cash bail of Shs50 million.
The four join other four colleagues who were granted bail three weeks back, although, they were rearrested minutes after their release and to-date, their whereabouts are unknown despite concerns from their family, Human Rights defenders and the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe.