Seven interrogated over Abiriga murder

RIP. Caskets containing the bodies of Ibrahim Abiriga (left) and his brother Saidi Buga Kongo in Rhino camp Sub-county, Arua District. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI

What you need to know:

  • Abiriga was shot dead alongside his brother cum bodyguard, Saidi Buga Kongo on Friday as they headed home in Kawanda, Wakiso District.
  • Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima could not confirm the interrogations but said investigators were interfacing with many people.

Kampala. Police have interrogated seven people over the assassination of Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga.
Abiriga was shot dead alongside his brother cum bodyguard, Saidi Buga Kongo on Friday as they headed home in Kawanda, Wakiso District.
Police sources said investigators supervised by Criminal Investigations Director (CID) Grace Akullo had summoned and interrogated seven people, including three who are considered eyewitnesses.
It was not readily established whether the other four are considered suspects.

“Investigators have recorded statements from seven people over Abiriga’s murder. The three were eyewitnesses who were summoned to help in describing the people they saw killing him,” a police source said.
The CID spokesperson, Mr Vincent Ssekatte, declined to comment on the interrogations. He referred Daily Monitor to Kampala Metropolitan CID commander Johnson Ola Dale.

Efforts to speak to Mr Dale were futile as calls to his cellular phone did not go through.
Police sources said the three witnesses said they saw the motorcycles being ridden by unmasked men.
“The witnesses have said they saw the motorcycles at about 3pm and were again seen a few minutes to 6pm. They said they can spot the people they saw if they are brought to them,” a police source quoted the witnesses as saying.

Investigations
Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima could not confirm the interrogations but said investigators were interfacing with many people.
“There are indeed many people we are interfacing with in regard to the ongoing investigations. And expert teams continue to examine the exhibits in our possession,” he said.

Sources said joint investigators from CID, Counterterrorism Squad and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence had arrested two suspects over Abiriga’s assassination, but this claim could not be independently verified and Mr Kayima insisted no arrest had been made by yesterday.
“Here [Kampala] no arrests have been made, but for the incidents in Arua, some have been arrested. They are four in total,” he said.