Kasiwukira murder: court directs lawyers to file submissions

________________

The Supreme Court has directed a lawyer to file submissions in a case in which two people convicted of murdering businessman Eriya Bugembe Ssebunya alias Kasiwukira, are seeking to overturn their 22-year jail term.

In October 2016, High Court Judge Wilson Masalu Musene (now deceased) sentenced Sandra Nakungu and Police Officer Ashraf Jaden to 22 years in prison after finding them guilty of Kasiwukira’s murder.

Meanwhile, Kasiwukira’s widow, Sarah Nabikolo, was acquitted of murder due to lack of evidence linking her to the crime.

When Nakungu and Jaden’s appeal came up for hearing on Thursday, April 3, 2025, a panel of five justices led by Justice Lillian Timbatemwa Ekirikubinza ordered defence lawyer Andrew Ssebugwawo to file written submissions in the matter by April 22, 2025.

Other justices on the panel are Percy Night Tuhaise, Mike Chibita, Stephen Musota and Monica Mugenyi.

The justices also directed the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Sam Oola to file a reply to the accused’s submission by April 29, 2025. The defence lawyer will file a rejoinder to the submissions, if any, by May 2, 2025.

During the session, defence lawyer Ssebugwawo said the court had ordered Jaden’s transfer to Luzira Upper Prison, but he is still in custody at Bugungu Prison in Njeru, Buikwe.

The lawyer said this made it difficult for him to interact with Jaden, and obtain instructions on how to proceed.

Asked by Justice Timbatemwa why Jaden had not been transferred to Luzira, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Timothy Tamale explained that security concerns due to understaffing prevented the transfer.

However, Tamale assured the court that Jaden would be transferred within seven days.

The court then arranged for the defence lawyer to visit Bugungu Prison the following week to discuss the matter with Jaden.

According to court documents, on October 17, 2014, Kasiwukira was murdered at about 6:00am near his home in Muyenga diplomatic zone. He was knocked down by a speeding car as he jogged in the neighbourhood.