The trial of eight individuals accused of the murder of Susan Magara has encountered a setback due to the reported illness of a key witness. Chief State Attorney Sherifah Nalwanga, along with Senior State Attorney Irene Nakimbugwe, informed the court during the hearing on Wednesday (May 15, 2024), that Enock Kinene, a forensic expert from the police, was unable to attend court proceedings due to his poor health.
Nalwanga stated, “My lord, this matter was coming up for further hearing of the prosecution case. We were expecting prosecution witness number 17 (Kinene) to continue with his testimony but unfortunately today morning, we received a message from him that he is very sick and therefore unable to be with us today. For that reason, we pray for an adjournment my lord.”
Defense lawyers, including Richard Kumbuga, John Kabagambe, Samuel Wanda, and Zaina Nabukenya, did not object to the prosecution’s request for an adjournment. Consequently, Presiding Judge Alex Mackay Ajiji adjourned the matter to May 29 for further hearing.
In a previous court session on March 25, the court viewed a video clip illustrating the events leading to Susan’s murder. The footage, extracted from a flash drive by Kinene, depicted Susan’s kidnappers demanding ransom money before her tragic demise.
The one-minute video showed Susan, blindfolded, pleading with her family not to involve the police but to instead send money to her captors for her release. The prosecution presented this video clip as part of their evidence.
The accused individuals facing trial include Abbas Musa Buvumbo, Yusuf Lubega, Abubakar Kyewolwa, Hussein Wasswa, Muzamiru Ssali, Hassan Kato-Miiro, Amir Ismail Bukenya, Hajara Nakandi, and Mahad Kisalita, the former imam of Usafi makeshift mosque in Mengo-Kisenyi.
Susan Magara, aged 28 and the daughter of businessman John Magara, was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, as she drove home in Lungujja, Rubaga division, Kampala district. Her kidnappers demanded a ransom of $1 million before her body was discovered in Kigo, Wakiso district, three weeks later, despite the family having paid $200,000 to the kidnappers.
The prosecution alleges that the accused individuals, along with others still at large, kidnapped Susan with the intent of procuring ransom money for her release, ultimately leading to her murder. The indictment suggests that Susan fell victim to a ransom scheme orchestrated by Yakub Byensi, a former combatant with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.
The prosecution further alleges that the decision to murder Susan was made to avoid exposure if she were to be released, highlighting the ruthless nature of the crime.
