The suspected terrorist may be extradited to Uganda Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
In a counter affidavit, Mukulu claims he is being politically persecuted in Uganda.
Meanwhile, Uganda has submitted an additional request demanding Jamil Mukulu’s two aides arrested along with him–Omar Abdulla Muktar and Matovu Muhammed Ssebadduka also extradited to Uganda for trial.
Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga
By: Kenneth Kazibwe, Chimpreports.
The Uganda Police Force spokesperson Fred Enanga has revealed that if all goes according to plan, the extradition process for ADF rebel leader Jamilu Mukulu will be completed by Wednesday, [May 27, 2015]. Mukulu was arrested last month by Tanzanian security forces.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Monday, [May 25, 2015], Enanga revealed that after Uganda placed in the request for extradition, Tanzania’s DPP presented the papers to their court that demanded Mukulu to respond to the papers from Uganda.
“On Friday [May 22, 2015], he appeared in court and submitted his counter affidavit against the ones already submitted in by the Ugandan authorities. The affidavit was however thrown out by court as it had errors,” Enanga explained.
“He was nonetheless given today (Monday) to be able to submit in a fresh affidavit and if all goes well by Wednesday the extradition process will be finished and Mukulu will be brought back to Uganda for trial.”
According to Enanga, among the key reasons that Uganda fronts for the extradition of the former ADF rebel leader include being a Ugandan and that an international arrest warrant was issued against him in order to answer charges for atrocities committed to Ugandans.
“Mukulu in his affidavit claims he is being politically persecuted in Uganda, but we hope the court finds that this is not true and that there are crimes he has to answer to back home and he is then committed.”
Jamil Mukulu (in whie shirt) under police escort at Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam. Photo credit: K-Vis Blog
The police spokesperson however noted that the whole extradition process had been delayed by the lawyers of the former rebel leader who he said were dillydallying.
“They kept saying they had not got access to their client yet on several occasions they claimed not to have finalized with their defense and this delayed the extradition process,” Enanga noted.
Meanwhile Uganda has placed in a request to have 2 aides to former ADF rebel leader Jamilu Mukulu who were arrested together with him extradited to Uganda for trial.
Enanga says Ugandan authorities have contacted their Tanzanian counterparts to have Omar Abdulla Muktar and Matovu Muhammed Ssebadduka deported to Uganda for trial of atrocities committed.
DRC Wants ADF’s Jamil Mukulu
Jamil Mukulu and the ADF high command (UN photos)
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has asked the Tanzania government to hand over to Kinshasa the supreme leader of rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Sheikh Jamil Mukulu who was arrested in April this year.
Congolese Justice and Human Rights Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told journalists three weeks ago Mukulu and his bandits committed “the worst human rights abuses in DRC than anywhere else in the region.”
He further said Mukulu “has been on our warrant of arrest for several years circulated in all the neighbouring countries. We are ready to ensure he faces the full wrath of the law here in DRC.”
In Tanzania, Mukulu’s identity was confirmed by DNA tests. It remains unclear if Tanzania would hand over Mukulu to DRC. Trained by Al Qaeda, Mukulu was born and raised in Uganda. His mother still lives in Uganda. Ugandan officials including Counter Terrorism expert, John Ndugutse are in Tanzania to facilitate Mukulu’s deportation. Source: Chimpreports.
