The trial of former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander Jamil Mukulu and 24 co-accused stalled on Wednesday shortly after opening, following the court’s failure to secure a competent interpreter for the prosecution’s first witness.
The first witness, Vincent Ekweny, speaks a rare dialect of the Iteso language and struggled to communicate his testimony, forcing the judges to adjourn the hearing until November 17.
Ekweny attempted to narrate events from February 1, 2015, when he claimed he witnessed suspicious activity in Namayingo District after returning from a gold mine.
“I saw three men pass by on a motorcycle…” he told court, but much of his statement was lost in translation.
Prosecutors, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko and Richard Birivumbuka, said they were prepared to present over 55 witnesses but expressed concern that delays were undermining progress in the high-profile case.
Justice Michael Elubu, part of the four-judge panel, explained that the adjournment was also due to scheduling conflicts.
“Some of the judges will be away attending the vigil of our colleague Justice Mwaka, whose father has passed away. Others will be out of the country. This is why we adjourned until mid-November,” he said.
Elubu further assured the court that once proceedings resume, they will run nonstop for a full week to recover lost time.
Mukulu and his co-accused face multiple charges linked to their alleged activities with the ADF, including terrorism, murder, and crimes against humanity.
The trial continues to draw both national and international attention given the gravity of the allegations.
