The Director of Public Prosecutions-DPP Jane Frances Abodo has withdrawn criminal charges against 14 suspects implicated in the demolition of St Peter’s Church Ndeeba in Rubaga Division last year.
The fourteen include a retired army officer, Muhammad Kawooya, Richard Kasule, Ali Mukwaya, Bashir Maruti, Muniru Bbossa, Andrew Mujuzi, James Kisirinya, among others all casual hired by city businessman, Dodoviko Mwanja to demolish St. Peter’s Ndeeba Church.
The Chief State Attorney, John Kunya presented the DPP’s letter withdrawing the charges before the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate, Joan Aciro yesterday.
The DPP’s letter left the chief magistrate without any option but to terminate proceedings against the fourteen suspects.
This has left six suspects on the charge sheet and these include Dodoviko Mwanje, Ivan Katongole, and Acting Physical Planner of KCCA and SSP Rashid Agero, 59, former Field Force Unit commander Kampala Metropolitan area, SP Martin Odero, former FFU Kampala Metropolitan South zonal commander and ASP Isabirye Kaloli.
The state also preferred charges of abuse of office, corruption, and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor against Katongole and the four police officers.
Besides these criminal charges, Mwanje is currently battling other civil cases over the ownership of the land that hosts the church.
The government set aside Shillings 3.8billion to acquire the contested land from the businessman but the court halted the process.
