KAMPALA– Eight people accused of kidnapping and murdering of a businesswoman Suzan Magara have been allowed to be examined and treated on their personal bills to prove their alleged torture.
The eight include: Imam of Usafi Mosque Mahad Kasalita, Yusuf Lubega, 32, a boda-boda rider, Hussein Wasswa,22, a hawker, Muzamiru Ssali,27, boda boda rider , Hajara Nakandi,35, a teacher, Abubaker Kyewolwa, 30, a businessman, Hassan Kato Miiro, 22, and Ismail Bukenya a businessman and Musa Abbas Buvumbo, 23 .
High Court judge Jane Francis Abodo has ruled that even though the suspects are charged with capital offenses, they have a right under the Constitution to seek treatment from a private medical practitioner at their cost, hence ordering the commissioner of prisons to ensure that these particular suspects access one under the watch of prison Authorities.
The suspects appealed a decision by Buganda Road court to refuse to refer them for treatment at the Rehabilitation centre for Torture victims to be treated for spine, ear and eye injuries they claim to have sustained while in custody.
The judge also ordered the Commissioner General of Prisons to allow the personal doctors of the accused persons to go to their places of detention where they will carry out medical examinations, to establish whether it is true that the accused were tortured before being arraigned in courts of law.
These have since been committed to High court for Trial at the next convenience criminal session of capital offenders.
