Judge advises Maj Kiggundu murder suspects

Sheikh Yahaya Mwanje (right) and others in the dock at Buganda Road court yesterday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI.

KAMPALA- Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday advised the four suspects charged over murder of Maj Mohammed Kiggundu and his bodyguard to take unlawful confinement complaint before courts in Jinja District.

The suspects had appeared before Magistrate Jamson Karemani for a ruling following a complaint filed through their lawyer, Mr Fred Muwema, against Mr Wilson Omoding, the senior commissioner of Nalufunya Police Station in Jinja District for detaining them beyond the mandated 48 hours without prosecution.

Mr Karemani in his ruling explained that he was aware of Section 42 (3) of the Magistrates Court Act (MCA) that provides for a person to file a complaint before a magistrate’s court which is within jurisdiction to handle a given matter.

He clarified that, in this case, the acts complained about by the suspects were allegedly committed in Jinja District, so the court had no authority to handle them.

He said: “I, therefore, advise the applicants to file their complaint to a court that has jurisdiction,” Mr Karemani held.

Mr Karemani added that the accused are in court on charges committed in Rubanga Division, an area within Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court jurisdiction.

The suspects are Sheikh Yahaya Ramathan Mwanje,50, who was the acting Tabliq sect leader at Nakasero Mosque in Kampala, Muhammad Buyondo, alias Matiya, 43, a boda boda rider, Abdul Wahabu Sedegeya, 37, boda boda rider and Musa Sekandi alias Masanafu, 42, a businessman in Masanafu a Kampala suburb.
They were charged with two counts of murder.

On November 26, 2016, Maj Kiggundu and his bodyguard, Sgt Stephen Mukasa, were shot dead by assailants who were riding on two motorcycles in Musanafu, a city suburb as he was heading to Mengo for a radio talkshow.

Arrest
On December 13, 2016, Mr Emilian Kayima, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the suspects who are boda boda riders were arrested after being suspected of having used their motorcycles to transport the assassins to the crime scene and aiding their escape.