Uganda charges 32 over Kampala blasts

Police in Uganda have charged a total of 32 suspects over two bombings in Kampala on 11 July, the country's chief prosecutor said on Wednesday. The group, which includes 14 Ugandans, 10 Kenyans, six Somalis, one Rwandan and one Pakistani, is accused of killing 76 people in the twin attacks on a sports ground and an Ethiopian restaurant in the capital.

Reuters/James Akena

The accused appeared before a Kampala magistrate court on Tuesday afternoon, amid tight security.

They have been charged with three counts of terrorism, 76 counts of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder.

Nakawa court chief magistrate Deo Ssejemba has remanded them back to police custody until 2 September.

The suspects have complained about being tortured, denied medical access and kept incommunicado. The magistrate has ordered that police should allow the accused access to medical treatment from the government referral hospital Mulago in Kampala, and that they are entitled to legal representation.

Meanwhile court has issued an order restraining all media organisations in Uganda from reporting on any progress of the police investigations into the Kampala bombings.

Magistrates say that constant reporting of the matter, which it has termed "sensitive", could jeopardise the entire investigation.

Somalia's al Shebab rebels have claimed responsibility for the attacks.