Three suspects arrested over death of Mayuge businessman

Jun 11, 2020

 MURDER | INVESTIGATION |

Three suspects linked to gunmen that raided a home of a businessman in Mayuge district, and shot him five times, have been arrested, Police authorities have revealed.  

The armed men shot Henry Basoga, a 51, year-old barber, who operated a salon and also worked as a traditional healer in Mayuge district.

Without divulging details, in fear of jeopardising ongoing investigations, the Busoga East Police publicist, James Mubi, said: "We have some suspects in custody. They are giving good leads that would help security agencies pursuing the criminals to capture them." 

According to Mubi, the media will be notified once all the suspects are apprehended.

Last month, security agencies led by the police launched investigations into the gruesome act, which ended Busoga's life.

Mubi said; "The armed men raided the home of the deceased (Basoga) at about 7:30 pm, shot and killed instantly."

He added; "The gunmen found him watching television at his home before they spread bullets at him. They did not pick anything from the house," Mubi told New Vision in a telephone interview.

Findings indicate that Basoga, was shot five bullets; three in the stomach, one in the left thigh and another in the right arm while at his home. Forensic experts have already recovered cartilages of an AK 47 riffle from the scene. 

Preliminary Police findings indicate that at the time of shooting he was staying alone in the house.

He had sent his family to the village (names withheld) during this lock down period.

Report

The recently released annual crime report indicates that a total of 181 cases were reported in 2019 compared to 190 cases reported in 2018, giving a 4.7% decrease.

By the end of 2019, 43 cases of shooting were taken to court, one case secured convictions, while 42 cases are still pending in court. A total of 108 cases were still under investigations.

Kidepo region, Kampala Metropolitan Policing area(KMP South, East) and Mt. Moroto, among other areas that topped regions leading in murder by shooting, according to the report.

Caution

Mubi cautioned residents in Busoga region to be serious about the curfew time.

"We had a meeting with the health team/ facilities on how they should operate especially after curfew time," said Mubi, adding that; " It would be business as usual for a number of times people in the region have been using excuses visiting clinics ( In most cases they are lying) and fail to beat curfew time(7:00pm)." 

Security task force

Uganda's National Security Council (NSC) set up an Inter-Agency Joint Task Force (JTF) at National and Regional levels to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Combatting COVID 19 epidemic that has hit the country.

JTF is headed by the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces' (UPDF) Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi.

JTF comprises officers from the UPDF, Police, Prison Services, National Joint Intelligence Committee, Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control and Customs. Other members are National Water and Sewerage Corporation, UMEME and Kampala Capital City Authority.

Operations

JTF coordinates direct support from the agencies to the health ministry, according to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga.

All is aimed at ensuring compliance with the safety measures issued to secure the country from the COVID 19 threat.

Other security threats

JTF further monitors the security situation to avert possible opportunistic criminal cases and to ensure uninterrupted provision of vital services.

Police appealed to the Public to pass vital security related information and non-compliance cases to the nearest Police or UPDF establishments on telephone numbers;  0800300100 (Toll Free) and +256713250391, +256753997665 and +256714012734. 

While explaining the threats, Enanga said security agencies especially the Police will focus more on high profile cases that include; Terrorism, murder, defilement and violating on the preventive guidelines issued by the president.

For low-risk cases, Enanga said; ‘complaints will be handled by the local council one officers. The petty crime cases include; chicken thefts, fist - fights, and some domestic related cases that don't draw mob justice actions.

"Some Police officers will handle these low-risk cases but on phones," he said.  

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