In a move that is likely to limit the timely dissemination of information to the public, the judiciary has issued new guidelines regarding the coverage of the ongoing case against 14 Muslim clerics charged with the murder of their colleagues.
The new guidelines come in the wake of a wave of killings ‘of both top Muslim leaders and other innocent people by unknown assailants’, the judiciary says.
In a release tagged ‘Revised guideline around the Uganda vs Sheikh Siraji Kawooya and 13 others’, the Judiciary through the Senior Communications Officer, says the guidelines are aimed at ensuring safety of all parties concerned.
The 14 clerics are facing murder charges before the International Crimes Division of the High Court, and among a raft of demands, journalists covering the trial will now have to get accreditation from the Judiciary SCO Solomon Muyita.
The journalists will also have all their gadgets checked and no one will be allowed to take any still photos or video clips of any judge or witness. Also, live broadcast of proceedings will require clearance from the SCO.
Meanwhile, the public will also be subject to a new set of rules including among others, restricted access to the courtroom due to the security threats.
Recently, unidentified gunmen waylaid Sheikh Major Muhammad Kiggundu, a potential witness in the ongoing Muslim clerics’ trial, and rained a hail of bullets, killing him and his bodyguard Sergeant Steven Mukasa. A former rebel with the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), Major Kiggundu denounced rebellion about 10 years ago, was integrated in the UPDF and promoted to the rank of Major. At the time of his death he was also a preacher of Islam on Pearl FM.
Maj Kiggundu was married to renowned city herbalist Sophia Namutebi commonly known as Mama Fina.
