Twenty one youths who are believed to have taken part in the September 2009 Buganda riots were on Tuesday formally charged with terrorism before High Court in Kampala.
The youths however denied the charge before Justice Ralph Ochan, who adjourned to Wednesday morning for hearing.
Prior to their pleading, however, Justice Ochan threw out an additional charge of destroying buildings and property which had been imposed on the suspects by the state. The judge said the fresh charge would prejudice their defense as they had not prepared for the case in the last two and a half years they have been on remand.
Justice Ochan also rejected the argument by the state that it had not got evidence in those two years pointing at the second charge. He ruled that the youths proceed with pleading to the charge of terrorism for which they were arrested and remanded.
The prosecution lawyers led by Vincent Wagona intimated to the defense lawyers led by Medard Sseggona that it had initially lined up14 witnesses against the suspects but that three of them have since passed on leaving 11 witnesses to testify. Those to testify include six police officers and five civilians.
Prosecution alleges that on September 10, 2009, for purposes of influencing the government or the public for social, political and economic factors, the youths attacked and set ablaze buildings housing Nateete police station. They also allegedly burnt 25 vehicles with number plates, five vehicles without number plates, and motorcycles. Among the vehicles, according to prosecution, is a police pick up truck registration number UP 0964.
Those who appeared in court today included Jesero Livingstone, Paul Kikulwe, Nsubuga Kamada, Hakim Lwanga, Richard Kijjambu and Robert Ssekabira. Others are Musa Sengendo, Gerald Kagga, Juma Ssekyanzi, Joseph Katamba, Mubarak Mutyaba, and Mizafaru Mugisha. Also in court were Kassim Ntanzi, Sadat Buyongo, Gafumba John and Zinda Rogers among others.
Some of the suspects were not produced in court on grounds that they are on a separate charge sheet.
On September 11 2009, violence erupted in Buganda region when supporters of the kingdom were angered by an attempt by the government to stop Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from attending a youth ceremony in Kayunga district, where the local community tried to break away from Buganda.
The authorities feared violence and refused to allow Kabaka Mutebi II to attend. The riot that followed left at least 30 people dead and 50 others injured.
