Court to Rule on Muslim Clerics' Case on April 4,2017
Sheikh Yunus Kamoga (Right) at the High Court in Kampala
Kampala. The 14 men accused of complicity in the murder of Muslim sheikhs Mustafa Bahiga and Ibrahim Kirya will have to wait up to April 4, 2017 to know whether they have a case to answer or not.
The date was fixed by the International Crimes Division of the High Court sitting at the Main High Court Building in Kampala. This followed the closure of submissions by both the defense and the prosecution yesterday. The defense lawyers called on court to find that the suspects have no case to answer while the prosecution submitted that there is sufficient evidence to put the accused on full trial.
"The panel will now retire to consider the written submissions and all the authorities cited and relied upon by both parties and will deliver its ruling on April 4, 2017. The accused persons are further remanded until then,"announced the lead Judge, Hon. Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi of the three-member bench.
If the court rules that the suspects have no case to answer, they will be discharged and free to go home. Should the court find they have a case to answer, they will be asked to start defending themselves against the charges and will be returned to prison pending further hearing of the case.
The accused persons, including the head of the Tabliq sect Sheikh Yunus Kamoga, are accused of killing several rival Muslim leaders between 2012 and 2015. They are also charged with terrorism and attempted murder of Prince Kassim Nakibinge and Dr. Haruna Jjemba.
Posted 14th, March 2017
