54 murders registered in seven months

By Simon Masaba

Quick enrichment, land wrangles, and relationships gone sour are responsible for 54 murders that occurred over the past seven months in Kampala city and other parts of the country.

Over 30 suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the murders, Police have said. 

"The common motives of these murder suspects are quick enrichment; land wrangles, and relationships gone sour. The motives in some cases however, remain unknown," said Police force spokesperson, Simon Kuteesa while releasing an interim report about the murders at the Police headquarters, Parliamentary Avenue.

Kuteesa said Police have stepped up investigations, streamlining command and control and enhanced community policing to sentize communities on crime prevention strategies to increase popular vigilance eventually to reduce crime.
"The trend of the occurrence of these alleged murder Cases since the beginning of the year is; January 04, February 07, March 07, April 12, May 04, June 12 and July 08," said Kuteesa.  

He also released the photos of Jamil Kafeero, whom he described as one of the key suspects in Police custody.  He said Kafeero arrested from Najjera, a city suburb was suspected to have been involved in one of the murders.

Asked about the murder of Sheik Abdul Karim Sentamu who was shot dead by unknown assailants on William Street, Kampala on April 20, 2012, Kuteesa declined to divulge any details about the Police investigations in the case.  

Kuteesa said investigations in the murder of Peter Baddokwaya commonly known as "Pepe" who was a special hire driver and a resident of Busega, had been completed.

Pepe went missing after some clients hired him for a journey to unknown destination. Later his decomposing body was found on July 16, 2012 in Lukwanga, Sentema.  

Police arrested two prime suspects into the murder who were charged and remanded in Luzira maximum prison. The suspects include Musa Kalungi, 26, of Namungona and Moses Mukisa, 19, a Rubaga Senior Secondary student.

Kuteesa said on July 10, 2012 assailants shot and killed Henry Kayiira, a businessman and proprietor of Namutidde Investments in Kiboga.

The police on August 22, 2012 arrested Jamiru Kafeero, Mulani Ssekajja and Sebuguzi Bosco in connection with Kayiira's murder.  Police recovered exhibits including a Sub machine Gun (SMG) and ammunitions. It also recovered a car, a Land Cruiser registration number UAN 283Y. The car is still unclaimed.

On the murder of Hajji Abubaker Kiweewa on June 22, 2012 at Kyanja Prime Petro Station, he explained that one suspect; Luke Balaba was arrested, charged and remanded in Luzira Prison.

"Some cases remain a challenge because of the complexity of the involved inquiries but the Uganda police Force is committed to finding the suspects and have them brought to book," Kuteesa said.