Journalists were barred from covering plea bargain proceedings involving terrorism suspects jointly charged with alleged former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander Jamilu Mukulu Alilabaki. The journalists had, as usual, reported to the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High court to cover the session. However, shortly after their arrival, ICD registrar Juliet Harty Hatanga informed them that the day’s proceedings would be closed to the media due to national security concerns. Hatanga said journalists would be allowed to attend subsequent open court sessions, including those scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, when Mukulu is expected to appear as the trial continues. Sources indicated that at least five suspects were already in court to finalise plea bargain agreements. Relatives of some of the accused were also present. This is not the first time plea bargain proceedings in the case have been conducted without media access. Previously, some accused persons entered into agreements with the state in exchange for more lenient sentences and were later sentenced to 17 years in prison. Sources further said judicial officers were unhappy with the individual who allegedly tipped off both journalists and relatives about the proceedings. A plea bargain is a legal arrangement in which an accused person agrees to plead guilty to some or all charges in exchange for concessions from the prosecution, such as reduced charges or lighter sentences. Mukulu, who was arrested on July 10, 2015, has spent more than 10 years on remand on terrorism-related charges. He is accused of directing co-accused persons to carry out murders and robberies in several districts, including Mayuge, Bugiri, Tororo, Mbarara, Namayingo, Kampala, Wakiso, Jinja, Mbale and Budaka between 2011 and 2015. According to the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Mukulu is indicted as a leader of the ADF and the Salaf Muslim community in Uganda. The prosecution alleges that between 2011 and 2014, Mukulu and his co-accused acquired firearms, underwent military training in neighbouring countries and secured funding to pursue political, religious and social objectives through violence. The charges also relate to a series of attacks, including the 1998 ADF assault on Kichwamba Technical Institute, in which more than 80 students were killed. Among the charges Mukulu faces is the murder of Muslim clerics Sheikh Yunus Abubaker Mandanga and Sheikh Abdul Khadir Muwaya Ductoor. The case is being heard by a panel of four justices – Michael Elubu, Dr Andrew Bashaija, Susan Okalany and Steven Mubiru, with the trial allocated a one-week hearing session every quarter. During earlier proceedings, the first prosecution witness identified accused person number one, Ali Kabambwe alias Munakenya, as the individual who allegedly shot and killed the LC III chairperson of Namayingo District on February 1, 2015. A third witness implicated another accused, Ibrahim Kyessa, as Kabambwe’s accomplice. According to chief state attorney Richard Birivumbuka, Kyessa later entered a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery and membership in the ADF, and was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison. Two medical doctors also testified in the last session, presenting a postmortem report from Mulago national referral hospital confirming that Sheikh Abdul Khadir Muwaya Ductoor died of gunshot wounds. Another witness, Dr Emmanuel Nuwamanya, a police surgeon and director of police health services, testified that Mukulu was of normal mental state at the time of his examination. He told the court that on July 11, 2015, he received a request from Namayingo police station to assess Mukulu for injuries and mental status. According to the doctor, Mukulu had no physical injuries and walked out of the examination room without difficulty. The medical report was admitted as a prosecution exhibit. The case is expected to resume tomorrow Tuesday in open court.The post Journalists ejected from Jamilu Mukulu court proceedings appeared first on The Observer.