Terrorism Trial - Witness Reveals Al-Shabaab Rules

On Thursday, the fourth day of the trial of the July 2010 bombing suspects, defense lawyers began cross-examining the first state witness, Mohamoud Mugisha, a Rwandan national. Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo entered High court at 11am.

Unlike the 13 who pleaded innocent, Mugisha confessed and served a lenient five-year sentence in return for his cooperation with the state. (On trial are: Edris Magondu, Hussein Hassan Agade, Suleiman Hija Nyamandondo, Mohamed Adan Abdou, Omar Awadi Omor, Mohamad Hamid Sulaiman, Yahaya Sulaiman Mbuthla, Sulaiman Njoroge, Isa Ahmed Luyima, Hassan Haruna Luyima, Muzafaru Luyima, Abubaker Batematyo and Dr Ismail Kalule).

The accused face charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder and being an accessory to terrorism. Simultaneous explosions at Kyadondo rugby grounds and Ethiopian village restaurant in Kabalagala on the night of the World Cup finals killed at least 76 people and injured dozens of others.

The accused are believed to be members of the Somalia-based terrorist outfit al-Shabaab, which claimed responsibility for the attack.

The 2010 bombing terrorists in court

Mugisha was cross examined by lawyers Julius Galisonga, Yunus Kasiriivu and Caleb Alaka. Joan Kagezi, a deputy director of public prosecutions, and Principal State Attorney Lino Anguzu led the prosecution team. SIRAJE LUBWAMA and DERRICK KIYONGA recorded the proceeding. Below are excerpts:

Kagezi: My lord, the parties at the bench remain the same, except for... (Alaka interrupts)

Alaka: My lord, I'm surprised. The bench is supposed to be you [Justice Owinyi-Dollo]. I expected my learned friend to say the parties at the bar. It seems your bench is highjacked.

Judge: I am still holding the bench [laughs].

Alaka: My lord, last week when we adjourned this matter [and asked to] be availed records of proceedings by Tuesday [March 24], we endeavored to get these proceed0ings yesterday [March 25] and we have not yet gone through them with our clients. We pray that this matter be stood over until this afternoon.

Lino Anguzu: [One of the prosecutors] we shall still be ready in the afternoon.

Judge: This matter will be stood over to 2pm for cross examination.

The delay to release the proceedings was because the proceedings are bulky. From now on, court will bear the burden of transcribing and then we will be supplying a soft copy to your emails which you will be able to read but you will not be able to alternate [change] anything. Read more