Police booed at Susan Magara’s burial
Security minister Henry Tumukunde lays a wreath on the casket containing the remains of Susan Magara at the burial in Kitoba Sub-county, Hoima District, yesterday. PHOTO BY FRANCIS MUGERWA
What you need to know:
- Mourners at the burial of Susan Magara in Hoima District booed Assistant Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, accusing the Force of failing to track her killers.
- However, Mr Byakagaba, who was representing Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura, struggled for audience at the burial that was also attended by the Security minister, Gen Henry Tumukunde, among other government and religious leaders.
- He also advised people to register all new comers in their neighborhoods as a security measure.
Hoima. Mourners at the burial of Susan Magara in Hoima District booed Assistant Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, accusing the Force of failing to track her killers.
Magara, who was murdered by unidentified assailants in Kampala after holding her for 20 days, was yesterday laid to rest at her ancestral home in Kitoba Sub-county.
However, Mr Byakagaba, who was representing Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura, struggled for audience at the burial that was also attended by the Security minister, Gen Henry Tumukunde, among other government and religious leaders.
“We have made some progress. We are tracing the suspects. We had good information from the toll free telephones, which we gave the public,” he said, amid boos from the mourners.
Mr Byakagaba said he is doing whatever possible to apprehend the suspects.
Gen Tumukunde, who represented President Museveni, apologised for government’s failure to rescue Susan, who was kidnapped on February 7. “We plead guilty in this particular case because security could have saved the life of Susan,” he said. He explained that Susan’s family agreed with security agencies to work closely in the investigations but at some point, the family asked security to withdraw for fear that the kidnappers may kill her.
He said the security agencies collaborated in intelligence gathering, tracking suspects and sharing clues but they were unable to apprehend the suspects.
The security minister said the deceased’s kidnappers were sophiscated and confident; always changing SIM cards, locations and phones every time they called her parents.
He ruled out rivalry among security agencies as the cause of failure to apprehend the suspects.
“The death of Susan will signal fundamental changes in Uganda, watch the space. I give you assurance that we shall get to the bottom of this issue,” Gen Tumukunde said.
He also advised people to register all new comers in their neighborhoods as a security measure.
Minister affirms
Gen Tumukunde. “The death of Susan will signal fundamental changes in Uganda, watch the space. I give you assurance that we shall get to the bottom of this issue.”
