DPP drops terrorism charges against 2010 terror suspects

By Sania Babirye
The five former 2010 terror suspects that were re-arrested in 2016 and charged afresh have been set free by the  international crimes division of the high court.
On the 26th of August, the group was charged afresh with  terrorism and conspiracy to commit terror acts by the director of Public Prosecutions.
However on Tuesday, state senior prosecutor Lino Anguzo informed justice Margaret Oguli Oumo that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to discontinue any criminal proceedings against the accused.
Anguzo has also presented a deportation  letter that was signed on the 28th of August this year by the minister of internal affairs Jeje Odongo deporting  three Kenyan nationals Omar Awadh Omar, Muhammad Hamid Sulaiman and Yahaya Suleiman Mbuthia.
However, one of the deported Kenyan National  Omar has filed an intention to appeal against his deportation saying he can not leave Uganda since his family lives Kampala.
Justice Oguli has however ordered him to stay with his mother in Masaka  until his application is had and disposed off.
The five are led by the  former Imam of Ntinda mosque  Dr. Ismeal Kalule, Abubakar Batemyeto, a Kenyan Human Rights activist Owadi Omar Wadi and 2 brothers ; Yahaya Mbuthia Suleiman and Muhamad Hamid Suleiman  whose  brother; Suleiman Nyamandondo was convicted of transporting the bombs to Kampala .
According to the dropped charges , the five  men while in custody at Luzira prison were found in possession of literature and other material which is aimed at promoting terrorism .
The DPP had  further stated that the suspects committed the offenses between  the months of  February 2012 and March 2016.
In 2016  the then Kampala high court judge  now deputy chief justice Alifonse Owinyi Dolo dismissed murder and terrorism  charges against the suspects in the 2010 twin bombings at Ethiopian village and Kyadondo Rugby club in Kampala that left over 70 people dead  and many injured as they watched the world cup final.
However their freedom was short-lived when they were re arrested within the  court premises and remanded to Luzira prison.
The international crimes division of the high court convicted the other nine suspects and are serving punishments ranging from life imprisonment, 35 years and community service.