The EU Regional Law Enforcement Project in the Greater Horn of Africa and Yemen returned to Uganda for the third round of international co-operation workshops – this time on extradition.
In 2010, 74 people were killed and 71 others injured, whilst they watched the World Cup final in Kampala, in a terrorist attack by Al-Shabaab. The prosecution of those charged was delayed by challenges to the extradition procedure, following claims of illegal renditions from Kenya and Tanzania.
In another attempt to halt the trial, the lead trial prosecutor, Joan Kagezi, was murdered on 30 March 2015, purportedly by agents of Al-Shabaab.
The trial resumed and seven defendants were convicted of terrorism, murder and attempted murder in May 2016.
With this background, eleven Attorneys from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, collaborated in the workshop to produce an extradition Manual and Fiches – highlighting challenges, practical steps to address these issues and areas for reform.
The Ugandan Manual will be an essential reference tool for practitioners, both in Uganda and the region, to enhance application of extradition laws, procedures and international instruments in terrorism and serious organised crime matters.
We were honoured to meet the DPP at the conclusion of the workshop, to discuss steps to encourage joint investigations and prosecutions in more than one State, through the establishment of a regional coordinating body. We agreed to develop this concept and explore opportunities in the near future!
