The High Court in Kampala has convicted nine people for the kidnap and murder of businesswoman Susan Magara in 2018.
On Monday, the court presided over by Justice Alex Mackay Ajiji found Yusuf Lubega, Mahad Kisalita, Ismail Bukenya, Abubaker Kyewokya, Hassan Wasswa, Abbas Musa Buwembo, Hussein Kato Miiro, Hajjara Nakandi and Muzamir Ssali guilty of kidnapping Magara with intent to procure a ransom before murdering her after holding her captive for nearly three weeks.
The nine had been jointly charged with kidnap with intent to procure a ransom and murder.
According to prosecution, the group abducted Magara from Lungujja, Kampala, on February 7, 2018, before killing her between February 25 and 27, 2018, at Konge.
Court heard that at about 7:50 pm on February 7, 2018, Magara was speaking on the phone to her friend, Yusuf Muhindo, when he suddenly heard a violent struggle.
Muhindo testified that Magara screamed in Luganda, “Temunkuba” (“Don’t beat me”), before he heard two male voices. The call lasted for about 40 seconds before it was disconnected.
Muhindo immediately alerted police and later informed Magara’s family. That same night, Magara’s Toyota RAV4, registration number UAJ 790W, was found abandoned in Lungujja with its engine still running while her mobile phones remained inside the vehicle.
Court heard that she was held for about three weeks, tortured and later killed despite her family paying a ransom of about $200,000 (approximately UGX 700 million).
The suspects were arrested in April during an operation at Usafi mosque conducted by a joint security team comprising the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
Justice Ajiji said the prosecution’s evidence clearly demonstrated that Magara had been taken by force.
“The screaming by the deceased and the abandoned vehicle with its engine still running prove beyond reasonable doubt that she was forcefully abducted,” the judge stated.
The conviction brings to an end a case that has stood out as one of Uganda’s most high-profile ransom killings, after more than six years of trial.
The case returns today before the court for mitigation and sentencing.
