State drops charges against Dr.Aggrey Kiyingi in Jamil Mukulu, ADF case
The state has discontinued proceedings against Australia based Ugandan cardiologist Dr.Aggrey Kiyingi before the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala.
Kiyingi was part of the 38 suspects including former Allied Democratic Forces leader Jamil Mukulu related to terrorism, murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, aiding and abetting terrorism, crimes against humanity and belonging to a terrorist organisation stemming from their alleged involvement in rebel activities.
Keep Reading
On Friday, the senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions John Baptist Asiimwe told court that the state had decided to discontinue proceedings against three people including Dr.Kiyingi, Muzafaru Kawule and Sheikh Swaluhudin Baligeya because they are not available for trial.
“Those three people on the old indictment are still at large and proceedings against them were discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions pending their arrest,”Asiimwe told court on Friday.
Previously, the defence lawyers led by Caleb Alaka raised concern over the whereabouts of the three people whom they said appear on the charge sheet but were not in court to attend trial, adding that the proceedings would be a nullity .
The state prosecutors in response said Dr.Kiyingi was outside the jurisdiction of the court whereas the other two accused had not been arrested despite warrants being issued to security agents.
This is not the first time the state is dropping charges against Dr.Kiyingi in charges related to terrorism and murder.
Last year, he was dropped from the charge sheet of the suspects in the murder of Muslim clerics that included among others, the Tabliq Muslim sect leader, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga.
Kamoga together with three others would later be sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of terrorism.
Two more suspects added
Meanwhile, two more people were on Friday added onto those accused together with former ADF leader Jamil Mukulu of charges related to terrorism and murder.
The state prosecutor named Adam Dean Luwooza and Joseph Masereka as the new suspects added onto the indictment.
Justice Eva Luswata ordered Jackie Namazzi, one of the lawyers provided by the state to represent the two new accused people.
Justice Eva Luswata adjourned the pretrial session to August 15.