Lawyer Mukisa murder: Senior Police officer Irama released on bail

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Superintendent of Police, Vincent Irama Urri, 45, accused of murdering city lawyer, Ronnie Mukisa, has been released on bail.

Mukisa was gunned down on May 30, 2024, at 11:00pm while at his home in Kitiko-Birongo, Ndejje division, Wakiso district.

General Court Martial (GCM) chairperson, Brig. Gen. Freeman Mugabe, released SP Irama, also attached to Kampala Metropolitan North on a sh2m bond, cash after finding each of his three sureties substantial.

Releasing the applicant, Mugabe ruled that the offence was bailable, that the applicant proved that he had a fixed place of abode within his court’s jurisdiction, that the sureties were substantial and that the trial had commenced.

“In the premises, this court finds merit in the application and grants bail to the applicant,” Mugabe ruled October 8, 2024.

Bail terms

Mugabe ordered Irama not to go beyond Kampala and Wakiso district boundaries without his court’s permission and report to the GCM every 14 days on Fridays.

“Each of the sureties presented is bound sh10m, not cash and the applicant should report to this court as and when required. Breach of any of the above terms will lead to automatic cancellation of bail,” Mugabe ruled.

Sureties

Represented by Elizabeth Nyasingwa, this was Irama’s third attempt to seek bail, after his previous ones failed on grounds that he would interfere with state investigations.

Among Irama’s sureties was Senior Superintendent of Police John Asobasi his friend and workmate attached to Police headquarters at Naguru; Vicent Seruwujo, his neighbour and family friend, and Penina Irama, his wife.

Other co-accused

Irama is charged alongside UPDF officers Corporal Geoffrey Mark Anyesa, 51, a resident of Kisasi, Kulambiro in Nakawa Division and Sergeant Rashid Ayup Okot, 33, aboding at Kafunda Kazo, Nabweru in Nansana Municipality.

Others are civilians Mzee Josebert Hayeza, 51; Robert Irama Kareodu, 50, and his girlfriend Brenda Cathy Nalwoga, 29, both residents of Kisaasi.

Nalwoga, the only female suspect among the accused, and Irama are the only suspects currently out on bail, while the rest of the accused are still on remand.

The charge

Prosecution alleges that Irama, Anyase, Ayubu, Hayeza, Kareodu, and Nalwoga on or around May 30, 2023, at around 2300 hours at Katiko in Wakiso district with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Mukisa.

Background and arrest

Preliminary investigations revealed that Mukisa was killed over allegations that he swindled $1m (about sh3.7b) from his business partners, who are among the suspects.

Court documents indicate that Mukisa’s business associates, Karedou and his wife Nalwoga, who while at the GCM denied any wrongdoing, allegedly hired Cpl Anyase and SSgt Ayubu to have him killed.

Anyase and Ayubu, reportedly fled from DR Congo, where they had been deployed under Operation Shujaa before completing the said mission.