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Swalleh Abubakar
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A suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel, who was extradited from Zambia last week, has been charged with financing terrorism and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Swalleh Abubakar, 31, was also charged with rendering support to the ADF and belonging to a terrorist organization, contrary to sections 8, 9, and 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The offenses elicit a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
Abubakar faces the charges together with Sulaiman Nsubuga, 48, who is currently on remand at Kitalya Prison on charges of unlawful possession of firearms.
On Monday, Buganda Road Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, read out the charges to Abubakar but did not allow him to say anything about the capital offenses, which are only triable by the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
The magistrate issued a production warrant against Nsubuga to have him produced in court on July 16, 2024, to answer the charges.
“Since this court has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter, you (Abubakar) are remanded until July 16, 2024. A production warrant is also issued against Nsubuga to appear in court on the same date,” Kayizzi ordered.
Chief State Prosecutor Joan Keko and Senior State Attorney Ivan Kyazze informed the court that investigations in the matter are incomplete.
“We pray that you adjourn the case to another date to allow the Police to complete investigations,” Keko requested.
According to the charge sheet, Abubakar describes himself as a businessman, while Nsubuga says he is a peasant and resident of Butote Village, Masafu Sub County in Busia District.
Abubakar was arrested in Zambia and deported to Uganda last week, while Nsubuga was arrested in Busia before he was charged and remanded to Kitalya.
Police investigations show that the accused persons are linked to another group of suspected terrorists who planted improvised explosive devices in one of the houses at Kwata Zone in Komamboga-Kawempe Division on May 4, 2024.
Following the incident, security operatives cordoned off the area after they were tipped off by vigilant residents about unknown people who had rented a house in Komamboga and had suspicious items in their bags.
Subsequently, the joint security forces detonated four improvised explosive devices that were recovered from the rented house.
Explosives that were recovered in a rented house
Allegations
Prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large, between 2018 and April 2024 in diverse areas of Uganda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa, directly and indirectly mobilized funds, procured digital watches, power banks, and other essential supplies, and recruited people to join ADF in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the prosecution, the accused mobilized funds knowing that such support would be used by the ADF, a terrorist organization.
The accused persons and others still at large are also said to have rendered support to the ADF by recruiting people to join ADF in the Eastern DRC before professing to belong to a terrorist group.
