The High Court’s International Crimes Division has sentenced a suspected member of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to terrorism, terrorism financing and membership of a terrorist organisation.
Justice Susan Okalany sentenced William Mayiga, also known as Kuraish, and James Ssentongo, following a plea bargain between him and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). Mayiga was sentenced to 10 years for terrorism, 10 years for terrorism financing and five years for belonging to a terrorist organisation. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a maximum of 10 years.
The prosecution told the court that between 2019 and 2023, Mayiga and other suspects who are still at large operated in Uganda’s Central, South-Western and West Nile regions, as well as in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was accused of collecting funds and procuring chemicals and other materials intended for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices for the ADF.
Among the materials recovered from him were potassium nitrate, potassium permanganate, erythritol and distilled water. The prosecution case was based on technical intelligence received by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Department of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, now known as Defence Intelligence and Security.
Investigators also established that Mayiga professed membership of the ADF and participated in activities intended to advance the group’s objectives, including influencing government and intimidating the public. While sentencing him, Justice Okalany considered the seriousness and prevalence of terrorism offences and the need to deter recruitment into the ADF and other terrorist organisations.
The judge also considered Mayiga’s role in procuring and assembling materials for improvised explosive devices. However, the court took into account his guilty plea, remorse, young age and the fact that the offences did not involve actual violence as mitigating factors. The case was prosecuted by Marion Ben-Bella, a Senior State Attorney at the ODPP-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
