Ssebuwufu, co-accused convicted over murder

COURT

KAMPALA - City car dealer Muhammad Ssebuwufu and his co-accused have been convicted over the murder of businesswoman Betty Donah Katusabe over a sh9m debt.

High Court judge Flavia Anglin Ssenoga ruled Monday that the accused were guilty of murder, kidnap and aggravated robbery. Following their conviction, Ssebuwufu and co-accused will now await sentencing, set for July 1 (Monday next week).

While delivering her decision, the judge said prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had participated in the commission of the said crime.

Katusabe was allegedly tortured to death by the accused on October 21, 2015, at Pine Car Depot on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala.

Court records indicate that Katusabe acquired a Toyota Premio registration number UAX 481H from Ssebuwufu at sh17m and remitted sh8m, thereby remaining with a balance of sh9m which is said to have caused her murder.

Ssebuwufu's co-accused include Paul Tasingika, Shaban Odutu alias Golola, Philip Mirambe, Kayiza Godfrey, Stephen Lwanga, Yoweri Kitayimbwa and Damaseni Ssentongo.

Initially, they were battling the charges together with former Kampala Central Police Station commander, Aaron Baguma, but Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) justice Mike Chibita dropped the charges against him (Baguma) at the commencement of the trial last year without advancing any reason to that effect.

Family and friends of the late Betty Donah Katusabe felt justice had been served. (Credit: Godfrey Kimono)

On April 29, court assessors Rehema Babirye, Betty Bogere and Joseph Wasibi advised the judge to acquit all the accused persons on grounds that prosecutors had failed to prove the charges against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

A court assessor is a layperson (not a lawyer) appointed by the court to sit and listen to criminal cases at High Court level and advise a trial judge on whether to convict or acquit an accused person basing on evidence submitted in court by the prosecution.

However, an assessor's opinion is not legally binding on the judge to adopt it.

The prosecution led by Assistant DPP Alex Micheal Ojok produced in court 26 witnesses to pin the accused.

Ssebuwufu had argued that although he sold the car to the victim with an outstanding balance, he had already secured it through a cheque and that had no reason to hunt for her.

Co-accused Tasingika said  he was hired by Sam Kiwanuka to pick Katusabe from Bwebajja in the company of police officers over a Toyota Prado.

The charge

The prosecution alleged that the accused and others still at large kidnapped Katusabe before beating her to death over a sh9m debt.

They were also accused of robbing the deceased of her cell phone worth sh300, 000.