KAGERA: BUKOBA High Court Judge Emmanuel Ngigwana has adjourned Preliminary Inquiry Case No. 17740/2024, involving nine suspects charged with the murder of a child with albinism, Asiimwe Novarth, aged 2.5 years.
The case, which was scheduled for a preliminary hearing, has been postponed to February 17, 2025, for further mention.
During the last mention of the murder case on October 15, 2024, Defense Counsel Projestus Mulokozi raised an objection to the preliminary hearing, arguing that the first accused, Elpidius Rwegoshora (49), an Assistant Parish Priest at Bugandika Parish in Missenyi District, was incapable of properly following the proceedings.
“Your Honour, the first accused (Rwegoshora) is incapable of properly following the proceedings. We request that he be sent to undergo a medical examination at Isanga Mental Institution,” he submitted.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Waziri Magumbo and assisted by State Attorneys Erick Mabagara and Matilda Assey, raised no objection, and the court granted the request.
However, when the case was mentioned on Monday, State Attorney Mabagara informed the court that the medical report from Isanga Mental Institution had not yet been received, while the first accused (Rwegoshora) is still admitted at the institution.
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The other accused persons are Novarth Venant (24), a boda boda rider and the father of the deceased child; Nurdin Ahmada (25) and Ramadhan Selestine (23), both residents of Kamachumu Village; Rwenyagira Alphonce (30) and Dastan Burchard (47), both residents of Bushagara Village; Faswiu Athuman (39), a witchdoctor from Nyakahama Village; and Gosbert Archard (35) and Desidery Everygist (53), both residents of Nyakahama Village in Muleba District.
Mr Mabagara told the court that on May 30 of this year, the nine accused persons jointly murdered a child with albinism, identified as Asiimwe Novarth, aged two and a half years.
The accused were not required to enter pleas.
Justice Ngigwana adjourned Preliminary Inquiry Case No. 17740/2024 to February 17, 2025, for another mention and ordered the nine suspects to remain in remand custody.
