Mukulu who was appearing via video conferencing first started by asking the Judge her name in open court and the Okalany introduced himself to him before he told her that he had two issues to make .
The jailed leader of the rebel Allied
Democratic Forces-ADF, Jamil Mukulu stirred court this morning when he asked
Justice Susan Okalany to step out of his bail application hearing, saying she is
anti-Muslim.
Mukulu was appearing before the High Court International
Crimes Division via video link from Luzira prisons.
Mukulu first asked Justice Okalany for her name,
saying he had two issues he wants to court to address
//Cue in: "Do you hear ...
Cue out: ... of Luzira prison".//
After getting Justice Okalany’s
name, Mukulu said she is biased to dispense justice in the matter since she was
one time quoted by local newspapers, saying she was afraid Muslims would kill
her.
He explained that there is no way Justice
Okalany can dispense justice since he is also a Muslim.
//Cue in: "I'm not satisfied...
Cue out: ... I'm a Muslim".//
Justice Okalany who looked surprised
by Mukulu’s utterances asked him to prove the allegations with evidence.
She reminded him that there are laid down procedures for someone to
ask a judge to step out of his case.
Mukulu stood his ground, saying he knows
it too well that Justice Okalany revealed her
sentiments against Muslims, adding that she might deny him bail if she proceeds
with the application.
Justice Okalany advised Mukulu to raise his
concerns through his lawyers, Anthony Wameli, Geoffrey Turyamusiima and Hamuza
Ssekidde who were present in court.
Prior to this drama, the State
Prosecutor, Marion Ben- Bella had informed court
that she wasn’t ready to respond to Mukulu's bail application.
She informed court that she was served
with a huge document on Tuesday evening. Marion Ben- Bella asked for more time so that she can read the document in order to draft an appropriate response to the application.
Justice
Okalany adjourned the matter to August 6, 2020.
Background
Mukulu was arrested in Tanzania and extradited to Uganda in
2015 to face a string of charges including terrorism, murder, aggravated
robbery, attempted murder and being a member of a terrorist group, ADF.
He
was accused of commanding his co-accused to acquire firearms and training in neighboring
countries and funding for social, economic, political and religious motives.
The state alleges that Mukulu and his group
raided Muslim communities most of whom they disagreed with on particular issues
like where to face during prayers.
It is
alleged that it against this background that the group eliminated Muslim
clerics such as Sheikh Yunus Madango and top Shia Cleric, Dakitoor Abdulqadir Muwaya.
The suspects also allegedly attacked Bugiri Police Station and killed two
Police Officers identified as Karin Tenywa and Muzamir Babale.
In 2019, Justice Eva Luswata assessed the evidence
the state intends to use to implicate the suspects and found it sufficient to
sustain 20 charges against them.
Mukulu was accordingly committed to ICD
for trial, which has failed to kick off. It is on this ground that Mukulu is pushing
for his bail.
