TERRORISM CONVICT SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Muzafar Luyima was convicted for being an accessory to the crime. Photo by Eric Dominic Bukenya  

One of the eight men convicted on Thursday for carrying out the 2010 Kampala twin bombings at Kyadondo and Kabalagala that killed at least 76 people who were watching the World Cup finals between Spain and the Netherlands has been sentenced to one year of community service.
The trial judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo sentenced Muzafar Luyima, who was found guilty of being an accessory to the crime to one year of community service after spending six years on remand in Luzira prison.
On Thursday, the judge convicted Issa Ahmed Luyima, Hassan Haruna Luyima, Hussein Hassan Agad aka Hussein Agade, Idris Magondu alias Christopher Magondu, Selemani Hijar Nyamandondo , Muzafar Luyima, Habib Suleiman Njoroge and Mohamed Ali Mohamed for terrorism, murder and attempted murder.
However, the judge acquitted five of the 13 suspects for lack of sufficient evidence to link them to the terror attacks at Kyaddondo Rugby Club in Lugogo and Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala.
“It clearly manifest that they all prosecuted their criminal purpose knowingly and with determination. It does not matter that ultimately only prosecution witness two (Edris Nsubua) and the suicide bombers detonated the bombers that caused the deaths and injuries to many. The convicts all played a part either in the planning, surveillance, delivery of the lethal explosives or actual detonation,” Ruled Justice Owiny-Dollo on Thursday.
“They all knew that the deadly attacks would be executed on Uganda soil and this came to pass with the heart-rending consequences we now know resulted there from. The seemingly separate actions were in fact joint and coordinated and led to ultimately to the disastrous deeds. They pursued the enterprise as a common purpose which they did and achieved and for which they have stood trial and been found guilty,” he added.
According to the Anti-Terrorism Act under which they were charged, those convicted of terrorism and murder are liable to a death sentence although court also has the discretion to hand them a jail term for a number of years as it deems appropriate.
However, the 8th convict, Muzafar, who was charged with being an accessory to the crime was liable to a maximum sentence of up to three years in jail.
Those who were acquitted of terrorism, murder and attempted murder are: Omar Awadh Omar, Muhammed Hamid Suleiman, Yahya Suleiman Mbuthia , Batematyo Abubakari, and Dr Ismail Kalule.
The prosecution contended that the accused and others still at large on July 11, 2010 at Kyadondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village Restaurant intentionally and unlawfully delivered and discharged bombs which caused deaths and serious bodily injuries or extensive destruction likely to result into major economic loss.
The judge adjourned the case to 3pm when he will sentence the other seven convicts.

CREDIT: MONITOR