Agaba's suspected killer charged with murder, robbery

At about 3:30 PM on Wednesday afternoon, Ronald Obangakene, a private security guard from Oyam was standing alone in the dock at the Makindye Chief Magistrate Court.

He was brought to the court in a white double cabin pick-up truck led by a Police patrol vehicle, which attracted the attention the people at the court premises.

From the security detail around him and the crowds that gathered, it was apparent that the person arriving at the court was no ordinary offender.

Obangakene had earlier this week already confessed to the Police and later did so before a magistrate, that he killed Dr Catherine Agaba, 26, who was working at International Hospital Kampala in Namuwongo, a Kampala city suburb.    

Upon his arrest on the night of Easter Sunday from his hideout in Anyulu village, Adyeda parish in Loro sub-county, the Primary Six dropout led the security operatives to a septic tank in the compound of apartments where he was employed as a security guard and led them to Agaba's remains which had been put in a septic tank.

The shocking revelation ended a nine-day search that started on April 13 when she was first reported missing.

Catherine Agaba, 26, had been missing for a week before her remains were discovered this week. Courtesy Photo

The magistrate, John Okipi, gave the Police time to remove Obangakene's chains and handcuffs before he finally stood in the dock.  

"Do you understand English? Okay, listen well to what is going to be read to you, but do not say a word because this is a lower court that does not try such cases. Wait and do that in the High Court," Okipi said.

A court clerk read the charges; two counts of murder and aggravated robbery, both on a file case, MAK/00/AA/32/2019 under Kabalagala Police Station.

According to the charge sheet, Obangakene, a security guard at GPS Apartments in Muyenga and a resident of Anyulu, murdered Catherine Agaba, contrary to Section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act.

It states that on April 12, 2019, at Muyenga-Bukasa, with malice aforethought, he strangled Agaba, thereby killing her instantly.

On the second count of aggravated robbery, contrary to section 285 and 286 of the Penal Code Act, it is stated that he robbed Agaba of a home theatre, a gas cooker, a mobile phone, a flat-screen TV, utensils and other things and at or immediately before or after killed her.

It was a brief session and he was escorted to the court cells, from where he was led to the prisons bus destined for Luzira Maximum Security Prison.

He will return to court on May 13 for mention of his case.  

Agaba was on Wednesday laid to rest at her ancestral home in Kagonji-Kashari, Mbarara district.