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The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions has announced significant progress in the investigation into the alleged murder of tourists by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander Rashid Abdul Kyoto. Thomas Jatiko, speaking at the Nakawa Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza on Monday, March 4, revealed that the police were finalizing details before sending Kyoto to the High Court for trial.
Kyoto, also known as Rashid Abdul Kyoto alias Njovu alias Tembo, is facing charges of terrorism and aggravated robbery. The court session, however, saw his absence as he was not produced by the Prisons authorities, prompting Chief Magistrate Kakooza to issue a production warrant against him. The magistrate directed the authorities to ensure Kyoto’s presence in court on March 18, 2024, for the mention of his case.
The incident in question occurred on October 17, 2023, when British national David James Barlow, his South African wife Celia Emmarentia Geyer, and their guide Eric Alyai were killed during an attack while on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Prosecution alleges that during the attack, vehicles were burnt, and the tourists’ belongings, including passports, money, and cards, were stolen by the accused and his associates.
Apart from murder charges, Kyoto is facing accusations related to terrorism and aggravated robbery, which carry severe penalties including the death sentence upon conviction. Prosecution asserts that Kyoto, along with others still at large, carried out acts of violence with the aim of causing death and destruction of property for political, religious, or social motives.
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Additionally, Kyoto is accused of unlawfully causing the death of the tourists and robbing them at gunpoint. The prosecution further alleges that Kyoto, between 2018 and November 1, 2023, was associated with the ADF, a designated terrorist organization, operating in various locations including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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