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Buganda Riots: Jubilations and tears of joy as court frees suspects
Nsubuga Meddie, one of the 11 suspects court set free on Monday following a ruling by Justice Ralph Ochan that the state had failed to produce evidence to pin him and the ten others he was accused with. Photo by Stephen Otage.
What you need to know:
It was alleged that on September 10, 2009, at Nateete, Kampala District, the group for purposes of influencing government or intimidating the public, or a section of it, for political, social or economic aim, indiscriminately and without due regard to the safety of others or property, attacked or set fire on buildings housing Nateete Police Station and other property including motor vehicles, motor cycles.
There were shouts of joy at the High Court in Kampala after a case in which eleven people charged with terrorism in connection with September 2009 Buganda riots was dismissed.
Justice Ralph Ochan discharged the group, part of an initial 25 people who had been committed to trial over terrorism, saying that they did not have a case to answer.
“We are disappointed by the prosecution and police because they ignored the basic requirements in investigations and fundamental human rights of the accused persons,” said Justice Ochan before a fully packed courtroom.
A total of eleven witnesses, all police officers, testified against the eleven, giving contradictory statements, while others accused their seniors of giving false evidence to court.
Violence broke out in Buganda in September 2009 after government stopped the Kabaka from attending a youth ceremony in Kayunga district where the local community, the Banyala, wanted to break away from Buganda. Security agencies feared that the Kabaka’s attendance would spark violence, and stopped him from attending the ceremonies.
The ensuing riots left at least 30 people dead and 50 injured.
Most of the suspects were accused of torching Nateete police station in the wake of the riots.
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