Septic tank murder: Man jailed over giving false information

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KAMPALA - A man was sentenced to 10 months in prison over giving false information to the investigating officers in regard to the murder of businessman Francis Onebe’s wife, the court has heard.

Twaha Semanda, an Assistant Inspector of Police attached to Kabalagala Police Station, told High Court presided over by Justice Michael Elubu that Onebe’s daughter got instructions to deposit shillings 6.2 million to an account number registered in the name of Gerald Abaasi.

In his statement, Abaasi claimed that on September 30, 2020, Pentagon Security Company's former manager Charles Okello met with businessman Brain Kwezira and orchestrated a plan to kill Onebe’s wife. Kwezira is the executive director of Kwizera Bus Company.  

Abaasi’s statement was recorded by investigating officer Jacob Okello and then attached to the Criminal Investigations Directorate at Kibuli headquarters.

Abaasi also stated that Okello paid shillings 150 million to some people including Kwizera to murder Aiso. He also stated that Aiso was strangled to death and her body was stealthily taken to her matrimonial home in Munyonyo, Kampala.

However, Makindye Chief Magistrates Court ruled that Abaasi's claims were false and sentenced him to 10 months in prison.

Semanda was on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, testifying in a case in which Onebe is accused of killing his wife, Immaculate Mary Blessing Aiso, and later dumping her body in the septic tank.

The businessman is battling charges of murder together with private security guard Bonny Oriekot attached to the Pentagon Security Company. On conviction, the penalty is death.

However, the hearing of the case ended prematurely with the judge saying he will communicate to the lawyers of the accused and the state attorney handling the matter a date when the trial will resume.

Background

On January 6, 2021, Onebe reported a case of his missing wife at Buziga Police Post and investigations commenced. He claimed that her wife was picked up by plainclothes operatives travelling in a ‘drone’ and taken to an unknown destination.

A week later, her body was recovered from a septic tank at the couple’s residence in Buziga, Munyonyo, by the joint security team headed by the Crime Investigation Department of the Police Force.

Police preliminary investigations reveal that Onebe and wife, Aiso, parted ways and after 14 years reunited and formally married until her murder.

Following a Police probe, Onebe was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife before Makindye Chief Magistrates Court and later committed to the High Court for trial after completion of investigations.

In the committal papers, the Director of Public Prosecutions reveals that Onebe and Aiso had a dispute over sorcery, resulting in the death of his wife.