Tuesday morning started on a bad note for anxious relatives and wives to 8 suspects on remand for a bloody shooting incident at works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala.
Gen Katumba narrowly escaped death on 1st June when goons riding on Bodabodas attacked and opened fire on his ride at Kissasi, injuring him and killing his daughter and driver instantly.
The suspects in the shooting, also linked to rebel group ADF have since been charged at the Nakawa Chief Magistrate Court with several capital counts including murder, attempted murder, terrorism among others.
While appearing for mention of their case today, depressed relatives to the suspects were left disappointed when the Grade one Magistrate Ponsiano Odwori further adjourned the case to 14th September 2021 without granting bail.
This is the 4th time in a row that the suspects have been sent back to jail on grounds that investigations are not complete.
State prosecutor Babrah Kyomugisha asked that the suspects return to the coolers because their release may jeopardize ongoing investigations.
Soon after courts directives, women could be seen rotating the court chambers yelling profusely in tears as if the world had come to an end.
One of the Women our court reporter, Rashidah Nakaayi spoke to said she had hopes that her frail-looking husband would be sent home after the president recently criticized beating them.
”I was hopeful because president Museveni said these suspects were badly tortured, my children, how will we survive”
Soon after the adjournment, relatives struggled to get in line to see their people via zoom technology.
Relatives could be seen squeezing themselves in a struggle to have a live chat with their people from Luzira and Kigo via zoom on the Lawyer’s laptop.
While addressing the nation on security matters a fortnight ago, Museveni warned against the torture of suspects in detention facilities.
He cited the example of the Katumba suspects who appeared in court with torture marks on the backs, limbs, hands.
Museveni said: “Why do you beat a prisoner because you are too lazy to interrogate him. These are criminals, the torture was bad but the mistake they did was bigger, they killed our children but these confused people are damaging the good job done by the police and now they spoil it.”
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