Museveni speaks out on Susan Magara murder

Feb 28, 2018

"In order to eliminate these criminals, we may have to look at two other measures: capturing the palm-print of everybody and the DNA of everybody," President Museveni says.

PIC: Susan Magara's siblings lay a wreath on her casket during a requiem mass on Wednesday. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

CRIME | MURDER

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out on the murder of Susan Magara, a cashier who went missing for weeks, before being found dead this week.

A requiem mass was held Wednesday at Our Lady of Africa Church, Mbuya for the late Susan, during which glowing tributes were paid to a "respectable, loving and gentle soul".

In a series of tweets, Museveni said 28-year-old Susan's murder "shows what sort of swine (pigs) we have in Africa".

We have put together the President's Twitter messages on the killing. Here there are:

Friends and Abazukulu (grandchildren), I tweet to convey condolences to Mutabani (son) Magara and family on the brutal murder of our grand-daughter, Susan Magara.

She was kidnapped on February 7th near her home, at night. I was informed about the problem on February 18th when I came back from Arua-Koboko-Nebbi.

Susan's murder shows what sort of swine (pigs) we have in Africa that do not value treasures like the beautiful Suzzie whom, unfortunately, I had not had the opportunity of meeting.

The NRM defeated rural terrorists like Kony and ADF; and defeated the Karimojong cattle rustlers because we created forces that could cope with those rural security challenges and equipment to assist them.

The gaps we have been having in the towns have been lack of cameras and unregulated sale of mobile phone SIM cards to people without electronic identity cards. It is these gaps that we are in the process of closing. In the next few months, the cameras will be up in many areas.

Furthermore, no mobile or fixed phone SIM cards should be given to anybody without the electronic identity card. We may require the sellers of mobile phone SIM cards to have electronic identity card readers so that we rule out the photocopying of genuine electronic ID cards.

In order to eliminate these criminals, we may have to look at two other measures: capturing the palm-print of everybody and the DNA of everybody. Some elements try to argue that capturing the DNA of people is not democratic. I cannot understand why it is not democratic.

DNA records of everybody are good to compare with blood samples, sweat, sperm etc found at the scene of crime. Palm-prints are better than thumb prints because the criminal may leave the palm-print and not thumb print.

As for the killers of Susan, we shall get them because there are clues they left behind. I will not allow anybody to interfere with the freedom of our young people: discos etc.

However, Bazukulu avoid alcohol, drugs and umalaya. They are dangerous. I can't allow grand-children in the house to engage in those indisciplines. Similarly, I discourage all the other grand- children from that indiscipline.

May the Almighty God rest Susan's soul in eternal peace.