DPP drops attempted murder charges against city socialite Bryan White

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mike Chibita has written to the Chief Magistrate Makindye Court to withdraw charges of attempted murder against city socialite Brian Kirumira alias Bryan White.

The directive comes just a day after Kirumira’s legal team comprising John Bulungu and Rama Omungu told Makindye Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza that their client, had reached an out of court understanding for amicable settlement of the matter with his accusers.

 

Bryan White, together with his bodyguard corporal Thomas Okoth was charged with attempted murder for shooting at his neighbour Victor Bitwire. The prosecution alleges that Kirumira, 32, a resident of Buziga, and Okot, 28, a police officer, unlawfully attempted to cause the death of Bitwire on December 13, 2017.

Bitwire was shot in the shoulder and rushed to Nsambya hospital, from where he was then referred to Kampala International Hospital. The circumstances surrounding the shooting have since remained unclear.

Today, Chibita indicated that the state has decided to discontinue proceedings against Kirumira and his body guard corporal Thomas Okot.

The Penal Code Act gives powers to the state to proceed with a criminal matter even when the victim is not interested in the matter. However, a source at the office of the DPP told URN that Bitwire was the principal witness of the state in the specific case making it impossible to proceed.

Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza yesterday adjourned the case to the 24th April 2018 pending the resolution of the DPP.