Arusha. The Court of Appeal has ended a 13-year legal battle over the bombing of a Catholic church in Arusha after upholding the conviction of six men found guilty of murder, terrorism offences and using property to facilitate terrorism.
The ruling brings to a close the case arising from the May 5, 2013 attack at St Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Olasiti, Arusha, which killed three worshippers and injured more than 50 others.
The attack occurred during the inauguration ceremony of the church, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered. A bomb was thrown into the crowd as the Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania, Bishop Francisco Padilla, and then Archbishop of Arusha, Josephat Lebulu, were unveiling the church.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal said the High Court did not err when it convicted Abashari Omary, Yusuph Hutta, Ramadhani Waziri, Abdul Juma, Kassim Ramadhan and Japhari Lema on the charges.
A three-judge panel comprising Justices Lugano Mwandambo, Abraham Mwampashi and Lameck Mlacha delivered the judgment on Monday, July 27, 2026.
