Police agrees to hand over former Kampala DPC Baguma

Aug 16, 2016

Baguma allegedly visited Pine Car Depot, where he allegedly witnessed the torture and did nothing

PIC: ASP Aaron Baguma

Police have agreed to hand over the former Central Police Station commander, Aaron Baguma, to answer charges of murder.

Last week, the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Jameson Karemani issued the criminal summons against Baguma to appear before court on Thursday or face arrest.

While addressing journalists on Monday at the weekly Police briefing, the deputy spokesperson, Polly Namaye, confirmed that Police had received a copy of the summons from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), directing them to charge Baguma over murder.

Police, she said, is working with the DPP to ensure that Baguma is produced in court as required.

"DPP amended the charge sheet and included Baguma as a suspect before they asked us to hand him over. We adhered and shall produce him before court at the appropriate time," said Namaye.

Until yesterday, Baguma was among the Police officers pursuing a six-month advanced Police course at the Police Senior Command and Staff College in Bwebajja, off Entebbe Road in Wakiso district.

On Friday, Karemani issued the criminal summons against him to appear before court on Thursday or face arrest.

The summons were prompted by the court's resident state attorney, Jonathan Muwaganya, on grounds that Baguma was not in court.

"Your worship, this case is coming up for mention, but we also apply to tender in court the amended charge sheet. Its purpose is to include another suspect, Assistant Superintendent of Police Aaron Baguma," Muwaganya said.

He later asked court to issue the criminal summons. Baguma faces murder charges in connection to the death of former city businesswoman, Betty Dona Katusabe, alongside jailed Pine car depot boss, Muhammad Ssebuwufu and six of his business associates.

They include Godfrey Kayiza, Philip Mirambo, Stephen Lwanga and Paul Tasingika that were in December last year sent to the High Court to face trial over their alleged participation in the murder.

Others are, Yoweri Kitayimbwa and Damaseni Ssentongo, who were remanded until Thursday, while Shaban Oduttu, 22, alias Golola, who was recently arrested by Police is still in custody.

Baguma allegedly visited Pine Car Depot, where he allegedly witnessed the torture and did nothing to save Katusabe's life, but instead told her to pay the debt in order to regain her freedom.

Prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on October 21, 2015 at Pine Car Depot on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala, killed Katusabe.

The accused and others still at large, on the fateful day, allegedly tortured Katusabe to death in Ssebuwufu's office over the balance of sh9m resulting from the sale of a Toyota Premio at sh19m.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});