Bombed football fans watching World Cup final between The Netherlands and Spain
Four Kenyans have been found guilty of involvement in the 2010 bombings in Kampala, Uganda. Seventy-four people were killed in the attacks that targeted football fans watching the World Cup final between The Netherlands and Spain at Kyadongo Rugby Club in Lugogo and Ethiopian village in Kabalagala.
High Court judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo in Kampala found Idris Magondu, Hassan Hussein Agade, Habib Suleiman Njoroge and Mohamed Ali guilty of murder.
He acquitted three Kenyans – Muhammed Hamid Suleiman, Mohammed Awadh and Yahya Suleiman Mbuthia. The judge could not link them to terrorism because by the time of the attack, al Shabaab, which claimed the blast, was not categorised as a terror group by the Ugandan authorities.
The court convicted Ugandans Issa Luyima and Hassan Luyima of the twin suicide blasts. The prosecution said Hassan was radicalised by his brother Issa. The suspects are yet to be sentenced. They have seven days to appeal against the ruling.
The maximum murder sentence in Uganda is death. The last execution in the country took place in 2015. Hanging is the legal method of execution for civilian trials, as provided by Section 99 ( 1 ) of the Trial on Indictments Act.
The wrapping up of the case ends of trial that has dragged on for almost six years. The Kenyans were arrested in Nairobi, Mombasa and Dar-es-Salaam in an operation that involved local and international intelligence, including the FBI and the CIA.
Human Rights Watch had previously claimed they were responsible for torturing and killing suspects. The case suffered a setback following the murder of lead prosecutor Joan Kagezi in mysterious circumstances.The group also asked the National Police Service Commission to investigate the police officers involved in the rendition process.
Somali militant outfit al Shabaab, an affiliate of al Qaeda, claimed responsibility. The outfit said it was a warning for the Ugandan army that formed part of Amisom to exit Somalia.
(+) Group wanted them released
In 2014, a human rights group urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the plight of the eight Kenyans held in Uganda. Haki Africa asked the President to intervene and secure the release of the suspects or their domestic prosecution. They wanted Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed to negotiate and secure the release of the eight.