The fate of two former army informers recently convicted of murder related to staged suicide bombings in Munyonyo and Kalerwe Market planned ahead of Uganda Martyrs Day in June 2025 has been deferred by the General Court Martial in Makindye.
Hamza Lyavala and Hamid Walusansa were earlier convicted on their own guilty pleas after admitting having a hand in the plots allegedly resulted in the deaths of two individuals.
When the case came up for sentencing on Monday, the army court chairman, Brig Richard Tukacungurwa informed them that court could not sit as it was not fully constituted.
"One of the panel members lost two relatives and are not able to be here. The sentencing is therefore adjourned to Wednesday, November, 4, 2026," Brig Tukacungurwa said.
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The case was adjourned until then.
The case
The two were being charged alongside Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, the former head of special operations at the Defence Intelligence and Security( IDS), formerly known as CMI.
The army prosecution told court that about three weeks before the Munyonyo attack, Lt Col Byaruhanga, who was allegedly dissatisfied with his superiors, met Lyavala and Walusansa at Gowers Hotel in Namulanda along Entebbe Road and hatched a plan to stage fake bombings.
The bombs went off at Uganda Martyrs Basillica in Munyonyo killing one suicide bomber and a boda boda rider and another at Kalerwe Market, killing another woman who was carrying a bomb.
According to prosecution, Lt Col Byaruhanga allegedly wanted to use the bombs to scare the public and attract the attention of his superiors so they believe in the intelligence he was giving.
While the convicts pleaded guilty to the charges, Lt Col Byaruhanga maintains his innocence and the two has since been used as a state witness to pin him in the two plots.
Hearing of Lt Col Byaruhanga's case is still ongoing.
