magistrate’s court sitting at Makindye, Kampala Friday afternoon declined to hear a case in which detained Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) director for physical planning, Ivan Katongole was meant to answer criminal charges in connection to the demolition of St Peter’s Church in Ndeeba.
After spending more than 10 days in police custody, Katongole who was wearing sandals was arraigned in court supported by two people to take plea.
However, the chief magistrate reasoned that she could not hear a sick person and hence directed the police detectives to first take him for treatment.
“Court cannot charge a person who is ill. Let the suspect be taken back to police, get treated and bring him back when he is fine with a doctor’s report,” the magistrate said.
Katongole had been brought to court to answer charges in regard to issuance of a demolition order that led to razing of the St. Peters’ Anglican Church in Ndeeba.
Katongole is one of the 21 accused persons, among them businessman Dodoviko Mwanje. Their accomplices who include senior police officers who include DPC of Katwe, Mr David Epedu were remanded to prison pending investigations into the church demolition.
On Thursday, Lubaga Division building inspector, Richard Naika was remanded on same accusations.
Eng. Naika was presented in court with the Division GISO, Ali Mukwaya before they were remanded until August 21, 2020 after denying charges of conspiracy to commit a felony.
A total of 21 people, among them policemen and KCCA officials are probed over alleged unlawful demolition of St. Peter’s church in Ndeeba.
On August 13, the same court summoned businessman Dodoviko Mwanje and Superintendent of Police Martin Odero to answer similar charges in regard to the Church demolition.
On Friday, August 14, a total of seventeen people among them, the DPC of Katwe, Mr David Epedu were remanded to prison pending investigations into the church demolition.
Other jailed policemen include the officer in charge of Ndeeba police station, ASP Yeko Mugira and the OC for Field Force Unit, ASP Karoli Isabirye who are accused of conspiring with the businessman who owns the disputed land to commit an act which threw the entire nation into shock.
Mwanje, Eng. Naika, Mr Mukwaya and y policemen are separately charged with counts including disobedience of lawful orders of the commander of Kampala Metropolitan area, Moses Kafeero; who had ordered them to deploy security at the razed church in order to avert any demolition or destruction at the said church.
The suspected policemen are also charged with theft of chairs, doors and other property belonging to the church.
On the same charge sheet is a 65-year old retired army officer, Muhammad Kawooya who is also accused of malicious damage to property.
Prosecution alleges that on August 10, 2020, a group of twelve people used an excavator to break and cause damage to St. Peter’s Church, Ndeeba; a property of the Church of Uganda.
The remanded suspects will be returned to court on August 24, 2020 for hearing of their bail app
Forever is a long bargain.