DPP Withdraws Charges Against Re-Arrested Terror Suspects

The Director of Public Prosecution has withdrawn charges against five suspects of the 2010 Kampala twin bombings. The suspects are Abubaker Batemyetto, Dr. Ismael Kalule the former Imam of Ntinda Mosque, Kenyan Human Rights Activist, Omar Awadh Omar, Yahaya Mbuthia Suleiman and Muhammad Hamid Suleiman.

The five were part of the 14 suspects who were attested for their alleged involvement in the 2010 Kampala twin bombings, which claimed the lives of more than 70 people and injured several others at Kyadondo Rugby grounds and Ethiopian village Restaurant in Kabalagala.

They were rearrested after the International Crimes Division Court presided over by Justice Owiny Dollo acquitted them in 2016, saying prosecution had failed to pin them of terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism.

They were slapping with fresh charges of planning fresh terror attacks on Uganda. Prosecution alleged that between February 2012 and March 2016, the five suspects were found with written information and literature with intentions of promoting terrorism. 

They were also accused of planning to attack Jinja town once released from custody. This morning, the Principal State Attorney, Lino Anguzu told the International Crimes Division of High Court sitting in Kololo that the DPP Justice Mike Chibita had decided to drop the charges against the suspects. He however, didn't specify the reasons for discontinuing the charges against the suspects.

Anguzo informed Court that he had received orders from the Internal Affairs Minister for the deportation of Awadh Omar Awadh, Muhammad Hamid Suleiman and Yahaya Suleiman to Kenya. In the August 28th orders, the Internal Affairs Minister asks court to direct Prison authorities to immediately effect the deportation.

However,Omar Awadh Omar protested the deportation orders through his lawyer, Evans Ochieng. He told court that his mother is a Munyankole by tribe and his Kenyan father died. Ochieng argued that deporting his client to Kenya would deny him a right to his family since his children and mother live are residents in Uganda.

He asked court to stop government from deporting him. Justice Margaret Oguli asked Awadh to file a formal application, saying the Minister's orders cannot be challenged verbally. Oguli stayed Awadh's deportation until the matter is resolved in court.

He has to present evidence and documents showing that he is a half a Ugandan and half Kenyan. The suspects hugged each other shortly after their acquittal as they bid each other farewell.

By the time of filing this story the suspects were still locked up in the court fearing that they could be rearrested. There was heavy deployment of officers from the counter Terrorism and military outside the court premises.

The defense lawyer, Evans Ochieng told URN outside court that he always knew that the state couldn't sustain the charges against the accused.