Sheikh Kamoga applies for bail pending appeal

Sheikh Kamoga (L) has appealed the sentence. File photo

KAMPALA-  Jailed Tabliq leader, Amir Umar Mohammed Yunus Kamoga has asked the Court of Appeal to release him on bail pending appeal citing advanced age and ill-health.

In August, Sheikh Kamoga, the former leader of the Muslim Tabliq Sect was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was convicted on the offence of terrorism in connection with killing of Muslim clerics.

The International Crimes Division  Court jailed Sheikh Kamoga jointly with five other sheikhs; Siraje Kawooya, Murta Mudde Bukenya, Fahad Kalungi, Yusuf Kakande alias Abudalla and Abdul Salam Sekayanja.

In the application filed before the Court of Appeal, Sheikh Kamoga, 60, states that he is ready to fulfil all the conditions set forth by the court of Appeal on granting him bail because he is of good character and a law abiding citizens.

“…I am advised by my lawyers if M/s Muwema and Company Advocates that there is a possibility of substantial delay in the determination of my appeal before this Honourable Court as there are a series of cases pending and those that are already fixed for the next criminal session,” Sheikh Kamoga states in the affidavit.

Through his lawyers, the Muslim Cleric says it is in interest of justice that bail be granted to him because he has his appeal has a high possibility of success since no murder was ever proved against him at the trial court.

At High Court

Court sentenced sheikhs; Kamoga, Kawooya, Bukenya and Kalungi to life imprisonment while sheikhs Kakande and Sekayanja were jailed for thirty years. 

However, the group has since appealed against sentence.

The group is part of the 14 men who were accused of murdering  sheikhs Mustafa Bahiga and Ibrahim Hassan Kirya and the attempted murder of Sheikh Haruna Jjemba.

But the court held that under the terrorism charge, the six people indiscriminately terrorised and maimed Sheikh Haruna Jjemba, Najib Ssonko, Bahiga, Umar Swadiq, Kirya, Mahmood Kibaate and Prince Kassim Nakibinge.

Appeal

In the notice filed before the Court of Appeal, the six convicts said that they were dissatisfied with part of the decision of judges; Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Jane Kiggundu and Percy Tuhaise.