Arrested terror suspect linked to Kagezi murder

By Simon Masaba

A terror suspect arrested on Tuesday morning from Kyengera in Wakiso district is linked to the murder of Joan Kagezi, Police Chief Gen. Kale Kayihura has said.

Kagezi, who was an assistant Director of Public Prosecution, was gunned down last week near her residence in Kiwatule, a city suburb, as she drove home with three of her children.

Kagezi worked with the Kenyan and Tanzanian Law Enforcement Agencies at the initial stages of the investigations into the Kampala bombing of 2010 by Al-shabaab terrorists. She was also the principal prosecutor of the case.

Police Chief Gen. Kale Kayihura briefs journalists at Kyengera. PHOTOS/ Nicholas Kajoba

 Fred Enanga the police spokesman confirmed the arrest but declined to divulge further details.

“We have made an arrest. Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura will address the press shortly with the details” Enanga said.

The arrest comes days after a man suspected to have links with the Somalia-based Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab was arrested on Friday at a hostel near Makerere University.

The man whose identity has not been revealed was arrested following a tip-off from students.

Enanga said the suspect had expensive perfumes and phones but could not speak English or any Ugandan language. He reportedly had pictures in which he was holding a human head.

He said he could not reveal the identity of the suspect until the Counter-Terrorism Unit is through with its investigations.

"A man of Kenyan-Somali descent was picked at Akamwesi Hostel on Friday after concerns were raised about his movements. Police from Wandegeya Police Station swung into action on getting information from students about the stranger. Police could not take chances because we have intelligence that the terrorists are now targeting institutions," said Enanga.

Akamwesi Hostel, now renamed Ark Hostel, is just a stone's throw away from Makerere University main campus, and the arrest came just a day after the Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack on the Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya on Thursday that left 148 people dead.

Last Friday, Kayihura told journalists that they had credible information that Al-Shabaab was planning attacks on schools, colleges and universities on the Jinja-Kampala highway.

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