Kamapala, Uganda.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has responded to claims that it is shielding suspects in in a trespass case in Entebbe. Through a press release issued on 22nd June 2023, the Public Relations Officer Jacquelyn Okui clarified the role of the State Attorney and provided an insight into the ODPPs decision-making process.
A recent article in the New Vision reported that a complainant in a criminal trespass matter in Entebbe Court Ms. Barigye Peace had accused the Entebbe Chief State Attorney Ms. Kitimbo Janet of protecting some of the individuals, who are supposed to be placed on the charge sheet alongside the prime suspect Mr. Magomu. The article further reported that Ms. Peace claims that the police had requested the inclusion of additional suspects, but Ms. Kitimbo refused to comply stating that no further suspects could be added.
Yunus Magomu is facing charges of threatening violence and criminal trespass. The charge sheet reflects that that Magom and others on 7th September at Kiwafu Village in Entebbe Municipality of Wakiso District with intent to intimidate, threatened Ms. Peace Barigye. It is alleged that Magomu entered Ms Barigye’s compound with intent to threaten her.
The ODPP has clarified that the decision to charge the current suspect and exclude others was made by a different State Attorney. After Ms. Peace filed a complaint for more suspects to be charged, the case file was forwarded to the Nakawa Regional Office, where the State Attorney’s decision was upheld by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) based on the evidence presented. Subsequently, the case file was transmitted to the Resident Chief State Attorney for further action.
The central issue in the matter revolves around the sufficiency of evidence against the suspects. The decision to charge individuals is dependent on the strength of the evidence against them. In this particular case, the ODPP asserts that there was insufficient evidence to sustain charges against the additional suspects requested by Ms. Peace.
