Tears in court as suspected Katumba Wamala daughter, driver killers display torture wounds

Five suspects in the murder of works and transport minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala’s daughter Brenda Nantongo and driver Haruna Kayondo displayed wounds and marks of torture in court.

Muhammad Kagugube, Siriman Kisambira, Abudallah-Aziz Ramadhan Dunku, Kamada Walusimbi and Habib Ramadhan Marjan were appearing before Nakawa Magistrates Court for the first time since their arrest last week.

During the arrest that happened a month since the June 01 shooting at Kisota Road in Bukoto, some of their suspected accomplices were “put out of action” for trying to engage arresting police officers, according to deputy police chief Maj Gen Paul Lokech.

Their co-accused Yasin Nyanzi and Hussein Serubula were remanded last week days after their arrest (See: Suspected Katumba Wamala daughter, driver killers charged).

Now, the total number of suspects remanded to Kitalya Prison in relation to the June shooting has reached five.

Prosecution led by Barbra Kyomugisga alleges that between March 2015 and June 2021, while at various places in Uganda, the seven suspects involved themselves in attacks and murders on UPDF and police personnel, civilians, and police establishments without any due regard to safety.

Prosecution further claims that on June 01 2021 while at Kisaasi Central Zone in Kampala, the suspects caused the murder of Nantongo and Kayondo and attempted to murder minister Gen Katumba Wamala, his bodyguard Khalid Koboyoit and Boniface Mucunguzi.

When the five suspects appeared before Nakawa Court presiding magistrate Douglas Singiza, they were in tears as they displayed wounds of torture on body parts, including backs, legs, hands and feet.

The media wouldn’t have captured some of these marks of torture had magistrate Singiza not announced a break to make consultations on the prison that should host the suspects for their remand.

It is not clear if the five, who face terrorism, murder, and attempted murder charges, sustained the injuries during their arrest or their stay in police custody.

Calls by their lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima to have the suspects released to get treatment yielded no fruit after Singiza made it clear he and the court had no jurisdiction to order the release since the five faced capital offences only triable by the High Court.

But magistrate Singiza assured Counsel Turyamusiima he would issue orders to officials at Kitalya Prison to examine the suspects and give them treatment.