Pine Car Murder: Ssebuwufu applies for bail

City businessman Muhammad Ssebuwufu charged with the murder of businesswoman Betty Dona Katusabe has applied for bail pending the hearing and final determination of the case.

In his bail application filed before the High Court in Kampala, Ssebuwufu the proprietor of Pine Car Depot on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala attached a medical report citing that he is diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and epilepsy.

He has also hired three legal companies to secure his temporary release from Luzira Prison where he is currently detained alongside his four co-accused.

The five were recently committed to High Court by the former Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Flavia Nabakooza to face trial. This was after prosecution led by Jonathan Muwaganya informed court that investigations in that matter were complete.

The high court is yet to fix a date when his bail application will be heard.

His co-accused are; Godfrey Kayiza, Ssebuwufu's security guard, Philip Mirambo (a car broker), Stephen Lwanga (driver) and Paul Tasingika.

It is alleged that the accused persons and others still at large on October 21, 2015 while at Pine Car Depot allegedly tortured Katusabe which caused her death. They also face an alternative charge of robbing her of a phone worth sh300,000.

Katusabe was allegedly tortured to death by the accused persons and other still at run because of unsettled debt of sh9m arising from a car deal.

According to section 188 and 189 of the penal code act, any person found guilty of murder is liable to death.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) office has also preferred charges of murder against the Assistant Supernatant of Police (ASP) Aaron Baguma for abetting the murder. Baguma is the Kampala DPC who allegedly witnessed the torture but did nothing to save Katusabe's life.

Meanwhile the deceased's family led by Alex Masereka has petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in the matter for Ssebuwufu's bail application to be rejected.

"If Ssebuwufu is temporarily released, being a rich man, he is capable of interfering with the evidence" Masereka said.