From: AAP From correspondents in Uganda June 17, 2006
FIVE Australian observers and one Canadian are on their way to Uganda to witness the trial of Dr Aggrey Kiyingi, which begins on Monday.
Mr Kiyingi, 51, who has dual Australian-Ugandan citizenship, is charged with ordering the murder of prominent Ugandan lawyer and anti-corruption advocate Robinah Kiyingi, also known as Robinah Kiyibgi.
According to an official at the Foreign Ministry, Jane Namusa, at least two lawyers from the Australian Bar Association, two officials from the Australian High Commission in Nairobi, one member of the Australian Medical Association, and one member of the Canadian Medical Association have been given visas to travel to Uganda to attend the proceedings.
The official did not disclose their names.
Proceedings began yesterday in the Uganda High Court against Mr Kiyingi and two co-accused and were immediately adjourned until Monday.
Mr Kiyingi's lead lawyer Dusman Kabega said the delegation had told him it would be in the country before Monday.
"I am not yet sure whether the lawyers will join us to defend the suspect, but at least they have indicated that they are coming to assess the matter and see how they can help," said Mr Kabega.
Mr Kabega, who is to defend Mr Kiyingi jointly with Edward Muguluma and Edy Kikiringoma, said: "We are prepared for the case. This matter was committed to the High Court long ago for trial and we had enough time to prepare the defence for our client."
Mr Kiyingi is accused, with two others, of ordering the killing of his wife, Robinah Kiyingi, 55, who was shot several times in the head at the gate of her home in the Ugandan capital on July 11 last year.
Prosecutors allege that the Ugandan-born doctor ordered the killing by phone from Sydney where he ran a medical practice.
The pair separated several years ago and Robinah returned to Uganda where she became a high-profile anti-corruption and human rights campaigner.
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