Security has reportedly rearrested three suspects believed to have been involved in the brutal assassination of former police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
The suspects are Abdul Majid Ali Mugoya Byantuyo, a hawker of cosmetics and herbal medicine and resident of Nakalama in Iganga district, Faisal Dhikusooka Hibwagi Sinani alias Farouk, a peasant farmer and resident of Butaleja district and Abdul Kaala Tigasitwa alias Ibrahim Chris Kato Ibra, a chapatti maker from Bwaise, a Kampala suburb.
The suspects’ lawyer, Anthony Wameli brought the news of their rearrest to the attention of Nakawa Grade One magistrate Posiano Odwori today Tuesday. Wameli told court that he received phone calls from the three suspects two days ago, informing him that they had been re-arrested by security operatives.
The suspects reportedly informed Wameli that they are locked up at the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka, Kampala. According to Wameli, his colleague Geoffrey Turyamusiima tried to visit the suspects but was denied access.
“Three of the six accused persons were not present here…The reason they are not here is because they have been rearrested. Reason? Unknown. All that we know is that they are around Kireka. We tried to access them but we couldn’t. My colleague Geoffrey tried but failed,” said Wameli.
The spokesperson of the Criminal Investigations Department of Police, Charles Mansio Twine denied knowledge of the alleged rearrests when contacted.
“We don’t have files for those people and neither are they being held in police cells”, said Twine.
The Defense and Veteran Affairs ministry spokesperson, Brigadier Richard Karemire also said the suspects are not in their custody. The three suspects are part of a group of fifteen people who were picked up in connection to the assassination of Kaweesi in 2017.
If true, it won’t be the first time that suspects in the same case have been rearrested by security even after being granted bail by court in November 2017. They were released on bail after spending more than six months on remand following their arrest. Ahmed Ssenfuka, one of the suspects was rearrested by plain clothed security operators just moments after being granted bail.
The others are Umar Baganda, Ahamada Senfuka, Hassan Tusiime, Ibrahim Kissa, Osman Mohamed Omarite, Hamidu Magambo, Abdu Majid, Sheikh Musa Ntende, Asuman Mugoya, Swalleh Ddamulira and Sauda Ayub.
Some of the suspects turned up at Nakawa court today to hear the status of the investigations into the charges levelled against them. Nakawa resident state attorney, Christine Joy Apolot told court that inquiries into the files of the suspects are still incomplete.
Trouble for the suspects emanated from the gruesome assassination of Kaweesi his driver, Godfrey Mambewa and bodyguard, Kenneth Erau. The trio was shot dead on March 17, 2017 in Kulambiro, a Kampala suburb a few meters from Kaweesi’s home.
As a result, police swung into action and picked up suspects from various parts of the country and arraigned them in court on charges of murder, terrorism, aiding and abetting terrorism and aggravated robbery. The group at Nakawa court had earlier been charged with eight others who are awaiting trial in the International Crimes Division.
The others are Abdul-Rashid Mbaziira, Aramanzani Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdullazack, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Jimmy Masiga Ogutu, Joshua Magezi Kyambadde alias Abdu Rahman, Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha, Yusuf Siraje Nyanzi alias Jimmy Ssentamu and Shafik Kasujja.
These have since applied for bail in the International Crimes Division of High court presided over by Justice, Lydia Mugambe. The case will return to court on August 1 for mention.
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