The High Court Criminal Division in Kampala has convicted nine people over the kidnap and murder of businesswoman Susan Magara in February 2018.
The convicts are Yusuf Lubega, Mahad Kisalita, Ismail Bukenya, Abubaker Kyewokya, Hassan Wasswa, Abbas Musa Buwembo, Hussein Kato Miiro, Hajjara Nakandi and Muzamir Ssali.
Trial judge Alex Mackay Ajiji found them guilty of kidnapping Magara with intent to obtain a ransom before killing her after holding her captive for nearly three weeks.
Court heard that Magara was abducted from Lungujja in Kampala on February 7, 2018. During the incident, she was on phone with her friend Yusuf Muhindo, who testified that he heard a violent struggle and Magara screaming in Luganda, “Temunkuba” (Don’t beat me), before the call disconnected.
Her car, a Toyota RAV4, was later found abandoned in Lungujja with the engine still running and her phones inside. The judge ruled that this confirmed she had been forcibly taken.
The kidnappers later contacted her family demanding a ransom of between one and 1.5 million US dollars, which was later reduced to 200,000 dollars. Despite payment of the money by her fatherJohn Magara, she was not released.
Court also heard that the kidnappers cut off two of Magara’s fingers and sent them to her family along with a video of her pleading for her life. Forensic evidence confirmed the fingers belonged to her and that she was still alive when they were severed.
Her body was eventually recovered on February 27, 2018 at Kitiko-Birongo along the Entebbe Expressway. A postmortem report showed she died of asphyxia due to strangulation.
The prosecution presented 46 witnesses and over 80 exhibits, including DNA reports, phone records and financial documents. Telecommunications expert evidence placed the accused in constant contact and at key locations linked to the crime.
The court also relied on evidence that some of the accused led investigators to places where Magara had been held and where her body was dumped. Others were found to have acquired expensive assets shortly after the ransom was paid.
The defence denied the charges and challenged the evidence, arguing that key suspects are still at large. However, the judge ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Ajiji said the group jointly planned and executed the crime, held Magara captive, demanded ransom and later killed her to prevent identification.
