KAMPALA — The family of the late Ronald Ssebulime on September 10 protested against the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) decision to withdraw murder charges against State Minister for Information, Communication and Technology Idah Erios Nantaba.
The DPP Mike Chibita issued a withdrawal form exonerating the minister and her co-accused off the murder charges of Ssebulime.
The minister’s co-accused are Ronald Opira, Ronald Baganza and Edward Cherotich.
However this did not go on well with Ssebulime’s family —accusing the DPP of siding with the ‘murderers.’
Addressing journalists in Kampala, the family in company of their lawyer Muwada Nkunyingi noted that ” When the state stands with the killers then it is the state which kills and more likely it is the state that which killed Ssebulime for which the family will then find this as impunity and will seek locals and international justice.”
Mr. Nkunyingi noted that the family is aware of the DPP’s Constitutional powers but justice must be exercised constitutionally.
“The decision by the DPP to withdraw charges on all the accused is viwed by the family as political and seems to classify some lives of Ugandans especially for the poor like late Ssebulime Ronald as less important,” Mr Nkunyingi said.
Nkunyingi explained that whereas Article 120(5) of the Constitution require the DPP to execute his powers with regard to public interest, it’s decision to withdraw charges on all the accused may merely incite more murders by those with guns.
In June 2019 the family through Sylvia Nakayita instituted private prosecution on the minister and her co-accused howi DPP challenged the move and took over the case.
The family is now considering to challenge the DPP’s decision and also threatened to hold a peaceful protest on September 12.
However responding to the family’s worries DPP’s spokes person Jane Okuo Kajuga noted that the case was privately instituted but taken over by bthe DPP.
“The law provides in cases of withdrawal of privately instituted criminal matters that consent of court must be sought,” Ms Kajuga explained.
She further explained that the lawful procedure therefore involves formal proceedings before trial court highlighing reasons for the withdrawal and seeking courts consent.
Kajuga further states that the office of the DPP had previously instituted criminal charges in respect of the same murder case where one person has been chay and the case is still ongoing.
Ssebulime , a Biker was arrested, handcuffed before being shot dead by police officers on a police Patrol Van on March 24th , 2019 in Nagalama Trading Centre .
The Policemen were reportedly responding to Nantaba’s rescue who informed them about suspected assassins who had trailed her on motorcycles for about 40km from her Constituency in Kayunga District.
The Police through its Spokesperson Fred Enanga has since said that the other Police Officers will be tried by the Disciplinary Unit of Police.
