Magara killers face terrorism charges
Susan Magara was kidnapped on February 7 and kept for 20 days before she was killed in cold blood and her body dumped off Entebbe Expressway.
What you need to know:
- Susan Magara was kidnapped on February 7 and kept for 20 days before she was killed in cold blood and her body dumped off Entebbe Expressway.
- Her family paid about Shs700m ransom the kidnappers demanded but still killed her.
The army and police yesterday announced that suspects detained over the kidnap and killing of Susan Magara were facing terrorism and related charges.
At a joint media briefing, deputy police spokesperson Patrick Onyango and army deputy spokesperson Deo Akiiki said the suspects had been slapped with charges of terrorism and other offences, including of ransom, murder, defilement, human trafficking, kidnap and sexual violence.
The police and army raided a mosque in Usafi Market in Kampala a fortnight ago and arrested several people they said were linked to Magara’s killing.
The forces also rescued several children and women they said were being held captive in the mosque and vicinity.
Mr Onyango and Lt Akiiki echoed an earlier statement by police’s counter-terrorism director Abbas Byakagaba and Internal Affairs minister Jeje Odongo that the army and police raided the mosque after intelligence revealed that the suspected killers were holed up in the place of worship.
Mr Onyango said the suspects, whose number he declined to give, would appear in court in the course of the week.
A source had earlier said the army and police had arrested more than 54 suspects in connection with the kidnap and killing of Magara, but that 20 of them have since been released after vetting.
“When police and other security agencies conducted the operation at Usafi mosque, initially, the focus was to pursue suspects in the kidnap and murder of late Susan Magara, but it is now beyond that. The investigations teams have been led to several scenes where plans to murder Magara were planned and later executed,” Mr Onyango said.
Sensitive case
Asked on why the suspects have been detained beyond the 48-hours required for suspects to be produced before competent courts of law, Lt Col Akiiki said investigation were pointing to several sensitive leads that required more time to make the prosecution case airtight.
“It is now the Joint Anti-terrorism Task Force handling the investigations and once we detect any ingredients of terrorism, it may compel us to go beyond the 48-hour [limit],” Lt Col Akiiki said.
He said the exhibits recovered at Usafi mosque and at scene of crime were of great interest to the military.
He, however, declined to say whether the suspects would be tried in the army court. “Investigations are ongoing and the police will continue to take lead,” Col Akiiki said.
