The trial of 19 suspects charged with treason and concealment of treason has kicked off at the High Court’s Criminal Division in Kampala this morning.
The suspects, including Aisha Nakasibante, an in-law to Austrian-based cardiologist Aggrey Kiyingi, are said to have plotted to overthrow the government of Uganda by use of firearms between 2013 and 2015 at various places in Uganda , Dubai , Kenya and Tanzania .
Prosecution states that the accused expressed this plot through utterances , recruitment and training of rebels, acquiring satellite mobile phones for communication, motorcycles and vehicles for transport and also rented houses to act as safe houses to accomplish their mission.
The first prosecution witness, Dr Emmanuel Nuwamanya, a police surgeon from Nsambya Police headquarters testified that in March 2016, he examined three out of the 19 suspects and found them to be in a sound mental status with no physical injuries . The three suspects so far examined are Yusuf Sentamu , Muhammad Kalodo and Ismeal Ssentongo as prosecution exbhits in this case.
Until this morning, 20 suspects had been lined for trial, however before hearing could commence, the prosecution team led by Lino Anguzu presented to court a withdrawal letter signed by the DPP Mike Chibita discontinuing charges against Badru Bukenya.
Meanwhile, three out of the 19 accused were among people charged , convicted and sentenced over terrorism alongside Sheikh Yunus Kamoga. The three are Amil Kinene, Akim Kinene Muswansa and Multa Mudde Bukenya.
All the 19 suspects have denied the charges and are on remand at Luzira and Kigo prisons from where they are brought to attend trial.
