State told to speed up inquiry into Twijukye murder

Nakawa Chief Magistrate's Court has asked the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) to speed up investigations into the murder of a 22-year-old Enid Twijukye,

Twiijukye was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Brian Bagyenda, the son of ISO boss, Col Frank Bagyenda Kaka.

On Tuesday, Grade One Magistrate Margaret Aanyu ordered the DPP to complete investigations into the murder case against the accused, saying that inquiries had delayed for so long.

"State you should consider finalising inquiries in the case so that the accused are sent to the High Court to face trial," Aanyu said.

She noted that the six months in which a person is supposed to be released on bail if the state fails to complete investigations is about to elapse. She adjourned the case to June 8 for further mention.

This was after state prosecutor Joyce Anyango informed court that investigations into the case were still ongoing.

Procedurally, when investigations are complete, committal papers are prepared by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the accused is sent to High Court to face trial. Bagyenda, 29, appeared in court alongside Vincent Rwahwire, 28 and Innocent Bainomugisha, 24, to answer charges of murder.

On February 1, 2017, the trio was charged with murder under section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of death upon conviction.

Prosecution alleges that the accused, on January 4 2017 at Plot 2 Njobe Road in Luzira, Nakawa division, with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Twijukye.

On January 18, police arrested Bagyenda and his co-accused after telephone printouts from the mobile phone of the deceased showed that he was the last person to speak to her (Twijukye) before she disappeared mysteriously from her home.

She was murdered and her body was dumped in Seeta, Mukono district.

Twijukye lived with her sister in Namugongo, Kira Municipality in Wakiso District. On the eve of the fateful day, she left home and told her sister she was going to visit someone in Bweyogerere.

The following day the deceased's phones went off, prompting her mother to contact her other daughters about her whereabouts.

Later, Police recovered Twijukye's decomposing body in Namanve Forest, 11km away from the murder scene.