A witness in a trial over a spate of murders of Muslim
clerics in Uganda was "beaten and castrated" because he agreed to
testify, prosecutors say.
The defence argued those on trial could not have been
responsible for the attack as they were in jail.
The judge adjourned the trial, which opened on Monday, to
give more time to protect witnesses.
One woman and 31 men are on trial, including a cleric from
the Tabliq sect.
The prosecution did not give any further details about the
alleged attack on the witness but did say a court case had started on Friday.
The spate of killings included the head of Uganda's Shia
community, Sheikh Abdu Kadir Muwaya, who was shot dead Christmas Day 2014 in
Uganda's capital Kampala.
Three days later Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga, a leader of the
Tabliq sect was also shot dead.
Sheikh Muhammad Younus Kamoga was one of the Tabliq sect's
leaders in Uganda at the time of his arrest.
The BBC's Patience Atuhaire reports from the High Court that
the defence said police took the suspects out of jail and forced them to give
information against each other.
Our correspondent adds that Judge Ezekiel Muhanguzi ruled
that no suspects should be taken out of jail anymore and if police and other
agents want access to them, it should be in the presence of their lawyers.
Culled from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36575654
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