Magara murder case: Prosecutors grill suspect’s mother

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A mother to one of the nine people accused of kidnapping and murder of Susan Magara has been grilled by the prosecution after she told the court that her son was in Kiboga district on February 7, 2018, when the heinous crimes were committed.

During the court session on Thursday, March 26,  Hadijah Nangozi, a mother to Musa Abbas Buvumbo, said they spent 10 days in Kiboga for the family's annual gathering and returned to Kampala on February 10, 2018.

Probed by Chief State Attorneys Joseph Kyomuhendo and Sherifah Nalwanga whether she reported to police that her son was being falsely accused, having allegedly been with him at the time of the incident, Nangozi said no. 

Evidence adduced by the prosecution shows that it is Buvumbo who chopped off Magara’s two fingers in an attempt to compel her family to pay the ransom cash. High Court Judge Alex Mackay Ajiji is presiding over the protracted trial.

Asked to mention the names of Buvumbo’s children in court, Nangozi said she does not know them.

After failing to give convincing answers to a host of questions put to her, the prosecution told the court to treat the 59-year-old as a liar and consequently discharged her.

Nangozi is the 19th defence witness in the case. The matter has been adjourned to April 15 for a further defence hearing.

Buvumbo is facing trial together with Yusuf Lubega, Mahad Kisalita, Abubaker Kyewolwa, Muzamir Ssali, Ismail Bukenya, Hussein Wasswa, Hassan Kato Miiro and Hajarah Nakandi.

Defence lawyers John Kabagambe and Peter Wanda told the court that they are left with about three witnesses to close the defence case.

Upon completion of the defence case, the judge will sum up the case to the assessors to render their opinion on whether or not he should convict or acquit the accused. This will be followed by the final verdict by the judge. 

Susan Magara, 28, a daughter of businessman John Magara, was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, along Kabaka Anjagala Road in Mengo, a Kampala suburb, as she drove back to her home about three kilometres away.

Her captors later contacted the family and demanded $1m, about sh3.65b, in exchange for her release.

Although the family delivered $200,000, about sh700m, to the kidnappers, Magara was murdered. Her body was recovered three weeks later, on February 27, 2018, in Kigo, Wakiso District, where it had been dumped.

The allegations

The prosecution alleges that the accused, together with others still at large, kidnapped Magara on February 7, 2018, with the intention of obtaining ransom for her release from the danger of being murdered.

The indictment states that Magara was targeted in a ransom scheme allegedly orchestrated by Byensi, a former Allied Democratic Forces combatant from Bunyoro who was known to her family.

According to the prosecution, the suspects planned the kidnapping before carrying it out on February 7, 2018.

After the abduction, the suspects allegedly first held Magara at Nakandi’s home in Nateete before moving her to Bukenya’s residence in Konge II, Makindye Division, Kampala. While there, her two fingers were allegedly chopped off and sent to her family to demonstrate their determination to kill her if the ransom was not paid.

The indictment further states that the suspects later resolved to kill her because releasing her would expose them.

Prosecution also alleges that part of the ransom money was used to purchase land in Buikwe and Luwero districts.