URN.The evidence before court shows that by the time of arrest in 2017, the accused persons were aged between 16 years and 26 years.
Nine Rwandan nationals have asked the International Crimes Division of the High Court to dismiss charges of terrorism against them.
They were arrested in December 2017 on charges of terrorism, forgery, and the establishment of a terrorist institution together with 36 others.
The suspects are Emmanuel Mugisha alias Byekwaso alias Mukisa, Pastor Musonyu Geoffrey alias Papa Sheema Elisaha, Daniel Kamara, Moses Bijura, Timothy Mukisa, Tuyisenge Zanviye alias Mambo Ali, Olive Byakatonda alias Ojambo Kenneth, Bosco Manirihi alias Boyi alias Kigwe Robert, Innocent Ndayisenga alias Gashube.
According to the prosecution, the suspects traveled outside Uganda for the purpose of perpetrating, planning, or preparing to participate in terrorist acts such as providing or receiving terrorist training for political, religious, social, and economic gain without due regard to safety of others or property.
It is also alleged that some of the accused persons and others still at large in various places forged documents or certificates of identity allowing them to enter Uganda as Ugandan citizens yet they were doing it with intent to deceive or defraud.
On Tuesday, the lawyers representing the accused persons asked Court presided over by Lady Justice Elizabeth Kabanda to dismiss the charges against their clients on grounds that the State is not ready to try them yet they have been on remand, for five years.
The court has heard that six of the suspects have previously been under detention at Mbarara Police Station, Nalufenya Centre, Mbarara prison and they are currently at Luzira Upper-Security Prison. The Court further heard that three other suspects were granted bail in 2019 by Mbarara High Court and ordered to report to the International Crimes Division-ICD.
Innocent Okong, one of the lawyers says that there are no signs that the State will continue with the trial.
The lawyers including Okong, Geoffrey Turyamusiima, and Job Komakech added that the last time they were in Court, the prosecutors said that the files containing the charges of the suspects were lost and asked to be given time to consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions-DPP on whether to withdraw charges or.
The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko informed the court that they have the case files and all the evidence to pin the accused persons. Jatiko asked Court to give them one month to disclose all the evidence to the Defense team and also make an affidavit responding to the application to dismiss the charges.
Justice Kabanda granted the request by the State and adjourned the case to August 24 for further hearing of the application for dismissal of charges. The suspects were further remanded.
The evidence before the court shows that by the time of their arrest in 2017, the suspects were aged between 16 years and 26 years.
