KAMPALA Uganda, May 26, 2016
A Ugandan mastermind of 2010 bombing linked to the Al Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab that left 76 killed in Kampala was found guilty on Thursday.
Issa Luyima was found guilty by a Ugandan court over twin blasts that targeted football fans watching World cup final between the Netherlands and Spain at a restaurant and a rugby club in the Ugandan capital.
According to a verdict by Judge Judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Issa Luyima, a Ugandan national, had been shown during the trial to have played a key part in planning the attacks.
“I therefore find Issa Luyima guilty for the offence of terrorism of which he was charged, so I convict him,” Owiny-Dollo was quoted saying.
Judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo said Issa Luyima, a Ugandan, had been shown during the trial to have played a key part in planning the attacks.
The mastermind is believed to have gone to Somalia where he trained with Al-Shabaab before coming back to Uganda and conducting one of the worst attacks to be witnessed in the country.
The judge was reading the verdicts against 12 other suspects also in court.
The 13 men included seven Kenyans, five Ugandans and one Tanzanian — have been tried on a range of charges including terrorism, murder and membership of a terrorist organization.
Two men were already found in guilty in 2011 for their role in the attacks. Judge sentence ‘death sentence’ could apply.
7 have been convicted convicted and 6 acquitted. Guilty of terrorism are: Isa Ahmed Luyima, Hassan Agade, Idris Magondu, Mohamed Ali, Habib Suleiman Njoroge and Seleman Hijar Nyamandondo, Omar Awadh Omar, Yahya Suleiman Mbuthia and Abubakari Batemetyo were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.
Final Kampala bombing verdict: 4 Kenyans, 2 Ugandans and a Tanzanian convicted over Al-Shabaab 2010 Kampala bombing. 3 Kenyans and 3 Ugandans acquitted.
(Updated)
