The International Crimes Division of the High Court has confirmed multiple charges against Kyoto Abdul Rashid, alias Njovu or Tembo, a suspected member of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The charges stem from a series of violent attacks in October 2023, including a deadly assault in Queen Elizabeth National Park that claimed the lives of three civilians.
Rashid faces charges of terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery, and belonging to a terrorist organization under Uganda’s Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002, and Penal Code Act.
The court, presided over by Justice Susan Okalany, confirmed terrorism charges related to the deaths of British tourist David James Barlow, South African tourist Emmarentia Celia Geyer, and Ugandan tour guide Eric Alyai, killed on October 17, 2023, along the Katunguru-Katwe-Kabatoro road.
The prosecution alleges that Rashid and others shot the victims and set their Toyota Land Cruiser (Reg. No. UBF 303C) on fire after stealing personal belongings, including passports and bank cards.
The court also confirmed charges of aggravated robbery for the theft of Barlow’s UK passport, Geyer’s South African passport and bank cards, and Alyai’s Ugandan national ID and driving permit, citing the use of deadly weapons and resulting deaths.
Additionally, Rashid’s membership in the ADF, a proscribed terrorist group, was substantiated by witness testimonies and his own statements, confirming his role as a commander trained in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
However, the court declined to confirm terrorism and murder charges related to the deaths of Matovu Joseph and Nzowera Biira Paralesi, killed on October 12, 2023, in Kathoho village, Kasese district, and the destruction of a Mercedes-Benz truck (Reg. No. UBM 624L), due to insufficient evidence linking Rashid to these incidents.
A terrorism charge for traveling to the DRC for terrorist training was also dismissed due to a defective indictment, with the prosecution ordered to amend it to include Section 7(2)(z) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Prosecution evidence detailed Rashid’s arrest on November 1, 2023, by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) during a shootout on Lake Edward, where he was found with victims’ belongings.
The ruling, based on the International Criminal Court’s “substantial grounds to believe” standard, sets the stage for a full trial. The prosecution was directed to amend the indictment to exclude unconfirmed charges and victims, ensuring procedural clarity.
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