By Eumu Emmauel
Thirty-six members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga group have been charged with terrorism by the Nakawa Magistrate Court on Monday. The charges were brought under sections 6(1)(b) and 2(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Chapter 120 of Uganda’s statutes. Terrorism is considered a capital offense in Uganda.
The accused, comprising thirty-three men and three women aged between 25 and 55 years, appeared in court but were not permitted to enter a plea in response to the allegations. The Anti-Terrorism police brought them before the court, and the trial magistrate ordered their remand to Luzira Prison.
According to the prosecution, the accused individuals, along with others still at large, allegedly traveled from various locations in Uganda to Kisumu, Kenya, between the 22nd and 23rd of July 2024 to receive terrorism training. The group was recently arrested in Kenya, deported back to Uganda, and has been detained at Nagalama Police Station since their return.
The arrest and subsequent charging of the FDC Katonga group members demonstrate the serious measures taken by Ugandan authorities to address and counteract terrorism-related activities within and beyond its borders. The case will proceed through the legal system as the court prepares to handle the serious allegations against the accused individuals.