Kiyingi murder calls for independent probe

Sep 04, 2005

A KEY suspect in the murder of city lawyer Robinah Kiyingi died in Luzira Upper Prison on Friday, under mysterious circumstances.

A KEY suspect in the murder of city lawyer Robinah Kiyingi died in Luzira Upper Prison on Friday, under mysterious circumstances.

John Atwine, a UPDF soldier, was suspected to have shot Kiyingi seven times in the head at the gate of her residence in Buziga.

Prison authorities suspect that Atwine was either poisoned or committed suicide. He was vomiting heavily shortly before his death and had no history of being sick since he was arrested.

Either way, the motive was to undermine further investigations and prosecution of suspects. It is worrying that those who might have hired Atwine to shoot Kiyingi may escape the long arm of the law.

Moreover, it may now be difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Atwine actually pulled the trigger. All this points to the possibility that the bereaved may never see justice being done.

Police and Prisons departments alone cannot convincingly explain Atwine’s death. Some officers from these departments, and probably their supervisors, may be suspects or witnesses in this new case. Therefore, the two departments are not the best suited to investigate Atwine’s death.
An independent inquiry, probably judicial or comprising foreign detectives, should be considered if the Kiyingi murder is to be resolved and confidence in our security and judicial systems restored.

Prisons authorities can go ahead with an internal probe but this should be mainly for administrative purposes to help them close possible loopholes and prevent similar mysteries in future.

If the internal probe came across useful information it would still pass it on to the independent inquiry. The CID would do the same. It appears there were powerful forces behind Kiyingi’s death determined to undermine the course of justice at any cost.

Police and Prisons officers may resist these forces’ purses that may have been deployed to ensure that culprits are never brought to book. No effort should be spared to resolve the Kiyingi murder and other similar murders.

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