20101205
Monitor

Police have arrested a woman who had allegedly attempted to sneak a knife into Luzira Prison to one of the suspects remanded in connection with the July 11 bombings in Kampala.

Prisons officials said at the weekend they arrested the suspect's mother who was visiting his son. She had apparently stuck the knife in a pineapple she had taken as part of the food and other items for the suspect.

"On checking the items and removing the top of the pineapple, our officers found a knife and the woman remained speechless," Mr Frank Baine, the public relations officer of the Uganda Prisons Service, told this newspaper. "This prompted them (prison officials) to call the police to arrest her and she is still in detention pending appearance in court."

The incident occurred hardly a week after the suspect and 15 others were committed to the High Court for trial. Nakawa Chief Magistrate's court also ordered for the release of another 18 suspects after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions withdrew charges against them.

Kept mute

Mr Baine explained that the suspect's mother had declined to speak about the motive behind her action. The police's public relations officer, Mr Vicent Ssekatte, said he was not aware of the case. The 16 suspects face 89 charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder and charges of helping people who have committed an offence.

Court has since ordered the police to arrest three other suspects, Mohammed Ali, Jabir Noor Ali and Suleiman Nyamandondo by next month (January) upon the state submission of an arrest warrant.

The group is charged with cases related to the twin bombing in which over 74 people were killed and scores injured while watching the World Cup football finals at Kyaddondo Rugby Club in Lugogo and Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb.