Susan Magara was a down-to-earth person

Susan Magara, the 28-year old woman who was abducted in Kampala on February 7, lived a humble life despite hailing from a wealthy and influential family in Bunyoro sub-region.
It is possible that without her abduction, many Ugandans could not have known much about her life. However, after her kidnap, she became a subject of national debate in Parliament, security circles, social media and made headlines in national newspapers.

Susan was a daughter of John Fitzgerlad Magara, a prominent businessman in Bunyoro sub-region. He is the proprietor of Bwendero Dairy Farm and Nyati Rice mills. His prospering business estate produces spirits, farm inputs and supports farmers to grow rice and maize, which his company buys back at favourable market prices.

Powerful family
Susan’s grandparents include former First Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura. Mr Kajura has also held various senior government posts.
Kajura, who is now a senior presidential adviser on Bunyoro affairs, was bestowed a title of Omujwarakondo (the crown wearer) by reigning Bunyoro King Solomon Gafabusa Iguru . The title is the highest recognition which the kings in Bunyoro award to people who have outstandingly contributed towards the kingdom’s development.
Susan’s great grand-parent, Laurent Muganwa, participated in fight for the return of the former lost counties of Buyaga and Bugangaizi to Bunyoro. The two sub-counties had been given by the British to Buganda after the defeat of Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro in 1899.

Muganwa, who was a close confidant of Omukama Sir Tito Winyi, was among the key leaders of the native Bunyoro government. He rose through the ranks to become the Chief Justice in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.
Despite hailing from a wealthy and politically connected family, Susan lived a down-to-earth life, often socialising with people from all spheres of life.
“She was down-to-earth, very social and simple. We have lost our fellow resident, who blended easily with locals,” the Kitoba Sub-county chairperson, Mr Tom Mugasa, said.

Susan’s body was found dumped between Kigo and Kajjansi on the Entebbe Express Highway in Kampala on February 27. She was laid to rest on Thursday at her ancestral home in Nyakafunjo Village, Kitoba Sub-county, about 7km away from Hoima Town.
“Susan was extremely beautiful,” said the Hoima Bishop Emeritus Edward Albert Baharagate during her requiem mass at Kitoba Parish on Thursday.
“If she had joined a beauty contest, she would probably have won. We thank God for creating her with such beauty,” the bishop added.

He said her death had touched the hearts of many people because she was brutally killed.
“We know we shall all die one day, but not the way she did. It was so bad,” Bishop Baharagate added.
Susan was killed after 20 days of abduction even after her family paid a ransom, which the kidnappers had demanded.

Her father said before discovering her body, the abductors called him to pick a message wrapped in a polythene bag, which included her two fingers and a video they described as a ‘must see’.
He handed over the video and fingers to police for further investigations, he said.
As Ugandans mourn the death of Susan, many questions have popped up about her killing. The puzzle may get clearer to the public after the suspects in her kidnap and subsequent killing are apprehended.

Who was Susan Magara?
Birth. Susan was born in Hoima District on July 20, 1989 to John Fitzgerlad Magara and Mary Maureen Kabayanja.
Her mother died when she was still an infant. She grew up under the care of her stepmother, Ms Immaculate Abwooli Magara.
“She has been a little sweet kid who loved prayers,” Ms Abwooli said.

Education. She studied at St Christina Kindergarten in Hoima Town for her nursery education, before enrolling for primary education at St Jude Primary School where she completed Primary Seven in 2001.
She went to Mariam High school-Ntinda in 2002 and she completed her O-Level in 2006.
She enrolled for her A-Level at St Lawrence Citizen Paris Palace in 2007 and she completed her Senior Six in 2008.
In 2009, she joined Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi for a Bachelor’s degree in Ethics and Development Studies. She graduated in 2012.

Career. After her graduation in 2012, she joined her father’s Bwendero Dairy Farm in Hoima District as a cashier.
She has been an active member of the Uganda Marty’s University Alumni, according to the university’s vice chancellor, Prof John Chrysostom Maviiri.
He said Susan loved culture and she was a member of Banyoro-Batooro Students Association.
She was a member of the university’s chaplaincy that reaches out to students to evangelise them and teach them about morality, according to Prof Maviiri added.

In 2014, she went for further studies in India, where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in accounting in 2016.

In 2016, she was transferred from Hoima to Kampala as a cashier at Bwendero Dairy Farm office on Kabakanjagala Road in Mengo.

Other activities. While in Kampala, she joined the Rotaract Club of Bugolobi. She rose through the ranks to become a service director, according to Ms Anita Byoona, the Rotaract club president of Bugolobi. This year, she had been appointed as director of vocational services in the club.
“She served with responsibility and her results were fruitful. We have lost an asset, a friend and sister,” Ms Byoona said.
Salam Akugizibwe, who joined the Rotaract Club of Kitara with Susan, said the deceased hardly got angry even after being antagonised.
“She always smiled back when you imagined that she was angry. We have lost a person who is not easy to get,” Mr Akugizibwe said.

At the time of her death, she had not yet got married or bore children.