The Nateete/ Rubaga court Principal Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba has given the defense in a case in which nine men are accused of defaming an ultimatum so as to stop delaying tactics in their defense.
This came after one of the defense lawyers Robert Ojambo failed to appear in court feigning sickness.
It should be recalled that rhe case has been adjourned for more than 5 times, in most cases one of the defense lawyers claiming to be sick or having lost a loved one.
” This is not a capital offence and therefore the accused can testify whether their lawyers are present or not,” a tough talking Byarugaba stated having earlier threatened to withdraw from presiding overthe case because of the continued delaying tactics by the defense lawyers most notably Robert Ojambo.
The suspects who ate facing charges of conspiracy to obstruct Justice, conspiracy to commit a felony, criminal trespass and giving false information are Regan Ssentongo, Peter Serugo. Khalifa Labeeb, Israel Waiswa, Jamil Mwandha, Alex Wakamala, Aggrey Kinene, Martins Kagolo and Moses Tumwine who is on the run.
The nine suspects refused to testify under oath implying that the Prosecution headed by Chief state Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya can’t cross examine them a thing that has raised eyebrows.
On Monday 7th July , Aggrey Kanene an assistant to Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga testified before the court claiming he didn’t know the other accused, forgetting that Prosecution witnesses had pointed out how he often met them and also a phone matrix produced by D/ASP Bill Ndyamuhaki from the Cyber crime department of police showed court that Kanene had frequently called the youth especially Reagan Ssentongo. It should be recalled that Pastor Ssenyonga hired the lawyers to defend the boys.
Dr Sam kalungi who examined the youth who claimed they had been sodomised testified in court that he examined all of them and there was no sign that they had been sodomised. Pastor Ssenyonga through Aggrey Kanene had taken the youth for medical check up a thing which fell flat on their face and must be one of the reasons that their lawyers advised them not to testify under oath
With the Magistrate setting the ultimatum for July 18th one can only say that its a delaying tactic by the Prosecution as it awaits the ruling from the high Court to which they hard petitioned to allow media visually cover the proceedings.
Magistrate Byarugaba had banned visual coverage of the case after Prosecution outed distorted videos from court on social media.
