Bombs: 2 more held

Two more suspects have been arrested over the July 11 bombings in Kampala, bringing the number to 34. Khalif Abdi Muhammed, 20, a Somali national, was arrested from Somalia and Yahya Suleiman Mbuthia, 40, a Kenyan, was held in Kenya. The twin blasts left over 76 people dead. The Somali and Kenyan were also charged in Kampala yesterday. Senior principal state Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi represents 11 Kenyans, and Siraje Ali is for a Pakistani national and his employee, Ntale, currently admitted at Mulago Hospital. The Kenyan lawyer is Mbugua Mureithi. Thirty suspects, who have been in Police custody since they were charged on August 16, were yesterday remanded to Luzira Prison.

However, one of them, Peter Ntale Dithan, was unable to appear in court because he was admitted at Mulago Hospital. Four others were taken back into Police custody after the prosecution said “inquiries into their case was still going on. Others are Hussein Hassan Agad, a Kenyan preacher of Islam who has 10 names. Agad lives in Mulolongo, Athi River in Kenya, and Idris Magondu alias Christopher Magondu, aged 42, an employee of Flexible Trading Company in Kenya. Magondu lives in Kawangwale in Nairobi. Kagezi said the suspects in Nairobi would be transferred to Kampala to face charges of terrorism, murder and attempted murder. Among the 34 accused are Ugandans, Kenyans, Somalis and a Pakistani. The magistrate read the charges to them in a heavily guarded courtroom. Heavily armed 60 security officers surrounded the Nakawa Court premises, where the suspects appeared. The suspects were ferried to court in two batches, handcuffed and chained in pairs on the legs. Some walked with difficulty. According to the prosecution, each of the accused is charged with the murder of 60 people who died at Kyadondo Rugby Club and 15 at the Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala.Relatives of the accused who camped at the court from 9:00am, were denied access to the suspects. Some of them, however, managed to speak to them in Boran, a Somali language, as they were led into the courtroom. Apart from journalists, security and lawyers, no one else was allowed into the courtroom. After the court proceedings, the Police whisked the suspects away in a convoy of 10 Police pick-up trucks accompanied by other vehicles. They are expected back in court on September 16. The New Vision