Magara: Where is Pato the prime suspect?

Oct 01, 2019

Pato was extradited from South Africa in connection with the murder of Susan Magara but he has not been formally charged in court over it

MAGARA MURDER SUSPECTS

Susan Magara, 28, a daughter of city businessman John Magara was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, as she drove to her home in Lungujja, Rubaga Division.

Susan was an accountant at her father's Bwendero dairy farm. Court documents indicate that she was killed on February 27, 2018, and her body dumped at Kitiko, Kigo in Wakiso district.

Magara

Prior, the killers are said to have contacted her family and demanded $1m dollars (about sh3.65b) before they could release her.

She was held hostage for over 20 days and at the time of her murder, her family had paid $200,000 ransom to the killers.

Highlights of the case

March 07, 2018: Magara murder suspect tracked down in South Africa. Patrick Agaba aka Pato was arrested after some Ugandans in South Africa tipped security about his suspicious activities and lifestyle.

Pato was tracked down after security reviewed the telephone conversations between him and the family members and also recorded fresh statements from some of the family members believed to have been holding key information.

Agaba was arrested after an operation led by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Internal Security Organisations (ISO) netted his two other alleged accomplices — Ronald Asiimwe aka Kanyankole and Bob Kibirango, who was a driver of another prominent city socialite who was at the time detained in Dubai over stolen money.

Agaba then appeared before a regional court in Randburg Johannesburg in South Africa and the case was adjourned after the court asked Uganda to present additional information to back his extradition.

May 2019: Pato was extradited from South Africa in connection with the murder of Susan Magara but he has not been formally charged in court over it. the Government of Uganda, through Interpol, coordinated the successful return of Patrick Kashaija, alias Patrick Agaba, alias "PATO".

Why Pato became the prime suspect in Magara murder. The suspect possessed two Passports; Number B0661869 that was valid until 3/03/2018, in the names of Agaba Patrick, and Number B1177225 that is valid till 19/01/2025 in the names of Kasaija Patrick.

Police said the behavior of Patrick Kashaija aka Pato during the kidnap ordeal of Susan Magara was enough to create suspicion of his involvement.

Who is Patrick Agaba aka Pato?
Agaba, who is a distant cousin to Magara, allegedly owned a house in Munyonyo, Kampala, but by the time he left the country, he was staying in a rented apartment that he had moved in December 2017. He was born in Hoima, allegedly dropped out of the university while in ﬁrst year, but was been living a very lavish lifestyle and drives the latest customised cars.

Reports on him indicate that he obtained a South African Visa claiming he was invited by Mercedes Benz Company of South Africa as an employee of Spear Motors Uganda.

Twenty-three suspects have been arrested in connection with Susan's death.

July 30, 2019: Pato released on bail.

The High Court in Kampala released businessman Patrick Kashaija Agaba alias Pato on a non-cash bail after presenting four sureties including his father. High Court Judge Yasin Nyanzi was prompted to release him on bail after the state raised no objection to his temporary freedom bid.

Agaba aka Pato is also accused of kidnapping businesswoman Joan Alupo Cora, with intent to obtain a ransom from her relatives. The prosecution alleges that on May 1, 2013, Agaba and others still at large, while in Muyenga in Kampala, kidnapped Alupo, with intent to procure a ransom from her relatives in exchange for her safety.

It is alleged that the accused (Agaba) kidnapped and held Alupo for two days and allegedly demanded $150,000 which later was increased to $400,000 as a ransom for her release.