Stringent bail terms for Kaweesi suspects as state raises ADF concerns

The Nakawa Grade One court has set stringent bail terms for three suspects in the murder of Andrew Felix Kaweesi murder.

On Tuesday, five people including Ali Mugoya, Sinani Hibwangi, Abdul Kala, Ahmed Ssenfuka and Umaru Maganda were charged afresh for being part of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group that has since been labelled a terrorist group.

But three of them, Abdul Kala, Ahmed Ssenfuka and Umaru Maganda were released on bail.

Prosecution alleges that the two together with others still at large between 2006 and April 2017 at various places in Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo belonged or professed to belong to the Allied Democratic Forces, a terrorist organisation contrary to the Anti-Terrorism Act 2012.

On Tuesday, their lawyers led by Anthony Wameli applied for bail arguing that the offence is bailable.

However, in response, the state prosecutor Racheal Nabwire told court that releasing them would be suicidal due to the ongoing insurgency in Western Uganda.

"There is  insurgency at the Congo (DRC) border and the suspects belong to the terrorist group (ADF),"Nabwire argued.

"I ask for most stringent terms if released on bail."

In his ruling, Noah Ssajjabi, the Nakawa Grade One magistrate said he was cognisant of the fact that the offences are grave and touch lives of many Ugandans.

"The offences threaten the lives of every Ugandan and court has to be cautious while releasing them on bail,"Ssajjabi said.

The Nakawa grade one Magistrate asked each of the three released suspects to pay Shs 2 million in cash as bond whereas the sureties were each asked to pay Shs 500 million non cash.

The released suspects were also ordered to report to the District Police Commanders in their respective areas every last Friday of the month.

"The District Police Commanders should make reports about them (suspects) and update court, "Ssajjabi ordered.

The magistrate however declined to release two suspects including Ali Mugoya and  Sinani Hibwangi whom he said didn't present substantial sureties and identification documents.

He adjourned the case to January 23, 2017.

Felix Kaweesi was shot dead by unknown assailants as he left his home in Kulambiro, together with his bodyguard and driver in March 2017.

Some of the suspects in the case were late last year released on bail but the five were shortly  rearrested by security agencies, a few metres from court.

They were later charged with belonging to ADF, a group that was declared as a terrorist organisation.