Kayiira betrayed by a woman?

42. As a result of their investigations the police were contacted by a man named Emmanuel Sebbunza, aged 17 years, who informed police that he had been involved with the person responsible for the killing of Dr Kayiira and, although not at the scene at the time of the offence, assisted them in its preparation and later subsequent hiding of the stolen property. He further stated that he had been paid money for both his assistance and to keep quiet about who took part.

43. It is interesting to note that he states that the motive was robbery as the persons involved in the offence were all ex-UFM members, knew that Dr Kayiira was at the house and further knew that a large amount of money was in the house also. He states, however, that it was believed that Dr Kayiira had the money.

44. This evidence fits in if it is considered that Dr Kayiira was with Gombya when the Shs50 million was obtained by him and further that it was believed that Gombya was holding a large sum of money for Dr Kayiira.

45. Emmanuel Sebbunza further stated that the arrangements for the offence were made at the shop of Muzeyi & Sons, Kampala belonging to Mr John Katabazi, age 28 years, a businessman.

46. Subsequently, on March 19, 1987, Katabazi was arrested, as also were four of the 10 or so other participants. Robert Magezi, also known as Babi Katende, age 20 years, and Peter Kiwanuka, also known as Backfire or Kayongo, age 19 years.

47. All persons arrested have been interviewed and made statements but all deny being involved in the offence. One of those arrested in fact gives his alibi of being involved in another robbery at the time of the offence and, therefore, could not have been involved.

48. All accused, apart from the owner of the business premises (Katabazi), are apparently ex-UFM members, who had served under Dr Kayiira.

49. Identification parades were subsequently held and Magezi was identified as being at the scene by Julian Nabwire, Kiwanuka identified as being at the scene by Annet Namatovu and, although in itself not evidence, Nabwire ‘almost’ identified Kizito but was scared to do so because of the look she was given by him.

50. In addition, the cream coloured coat found at the scene was identified by Emmanuel Sebbunza as belonging to Kizito.

51. The evidence against the owner of the business premises is just that of Sebbunza and the fact he states that the arrangements for the offence were made there.

52. All persons were subsequently charged with the murder of Dr Kayiira and are at present remanded in custody.
On Thursday March 26, 1987, at the request of President Museveni, the Ugandan President, I (detective Chief Superintendent Thompson) attached to the Serious Crimes Branch New Scotland Yard, together with Detective Inspector Sanderson, Scenes of Crime Officer attached to the Metropolitan Police Laboratory, travelled to Uganda to assist the investigating officers because of the strong suggestions that the murder of Dr Kayiira was a ‘political’ one.

53. On March 28, 1987, a briefing was obtained from the Inspector General of Police, Mr Luke Ofungi, and also from the Director of CID, Mr Simon Mugamba.

54. Subsequent examination of the scene of the offence by the officers revealed the finding in Gombya’s room of a piece of metal (a bullet) and a piece of wood in Dr Kayiira’s room, which fitted a missing piece on the door of Gombya’s bedroom which had probably been transferred on the foot of the suspect who had kicked the door down. Blood samples had to be taken from the blood where the victim had died also from blood found on the walls in both Gombya’s and Dr Kayiira’s rooms. Two tool mark casts were also taken from Gombya’s room. All these exhibits, together with Dr Kayiira’s briefcase and the cardboard box which had contained the money, together with the cream coloured jacket, were sent by hand to the Metropolitan Police Laboratory London for examination. Also sent to the laboratory were three bullets and an empty cartridge case found at the scene.

55. A bullet hole was also found in the garage door and although the bullet has not been recovered, it is known that Gombya’s car was in the garage at the time and now has a burst tyre. Attempts are being made by the Uganda police to recover the bullet from the car which is still in the possession of Gombya’s family.

56. Fingerprints and palm prints, together with control blood samples of all the suspects were also obtained and sent to the laboratory for examination.

57. Enquiries were made extensively in the area of the murder up to a mile away, which showed that no NRA officers had been seen in the area prior to the date of the murder and further that there was a group of men, about five or so, who were robbing the villagers. No suggestion has been made of military men being seen in the area and the NRA commander has confirmed that his men were not in the area at the time.

58. Also interviewed was a Mr Kakande-Gava, a teacher who had known Dr Kayiira since he was a boy and had in effect adopted him and paid for his schooling. On the two days prior to the murder including the actual day of the murder, he had spoken to Dr Kayiira in his (Mr Kakande Gava) office and on hearing that Gombya with other four unknown were going to organise a party to celebrate his release from prison warned him not to attend as he did not trust Gombya, who he says was so changeable in personality, and further he felt that he ‘would be signing his own death warrant’. His reasons for this assumption are unclear but how prophetic his warning was.

59. Enquiries also showed that although as is the custom and law Gombya had been introduced to the chief of the village and the defence resistance leader, he had not in fact informed the two officials that Dr Kayiira was living at the address. This is looked upon by the local Ugandan people as unusual and bad manners. Local enquiries also revealed that none of the villagers knew he was living there although they knew him by name.

60. Lines of enquiry by the investigating officers include checking the financial background of Dr Kayiira and Mr Gombya, the tracing of a woman who an informant states was involved in the leading of the suspects to the house. This woman, it is alleged, was one of the girls who was at the scene when the attack took place.

61. Attempts are being made also to trace five other suspects whose names are known but who have gone to ground in the bush or have gone to Kenya.

62. Mrs Gombya on March 11, 1987, went to a local travel agent and purchased two open airline tickets for herself and a man named Mr G. Dick. The man ‘Dick’ is Gombya (confirmed by him) and the tickets costing a total of Shs3,144,680 (£1,572.34) were paid in cash.

63. These tickets were used by Mr and Mrs Gombya on March 13, 1987, when they travelled by Ugandan Airlines to London Gatwick airport. Gombya travelled using this name Dick.

64. It is this action by Gombya that has raised suspicion that he may in fact have had some part in the murder of Dr Kayiira for although he gave a statement to police before he left, it was self-written and he gave no opportunity to interview him on it.

65. It is also unfortunate, in hindsight that Gombya and his ‘wife’ were taken to Entebbe Airport by the Deputy High Commissioner Mr Peter Penfold. Gombya was not in fact wanted for any offence at the time and it is alleged by him that this was verified after checks with government sources, however great play was made by the various press/newspapers on the fact that prior to his exit from the country, Gombya had gone into hiding and had not been interviewed by police.

66. Much comment was also made by the press that rumours strongly stated that Gombya during the time he was in hiding was being sheltered at Mr Penfold’s own residence.

67. Although at the request of Uganda Police, Mr Penfold was not officially interviewed in respect of his actions and knowledge of these matters. I did in fact holding an unofficial briefing’ talk with him in which he agrees that he took Mr and Mrs Gombya to the airport but strongly denies allowing him to stay at his house or any other British High Commission residence.
His reasons were that Gombya was a good friend of his (Penfold is the godfather of one of Gombya’s children) and was purely assisting him in his travel to the airport. The fact that his car commands diplomatic respect did not assist in this matter.

69. Although upon our arrival this matter was causing some concern, it appears now to have died down and the fact that British Police officers are assisting the Ugandan Police has helped relieve the pressure on this subject. It is the reporting officer’s opinion that Mr Penfold’s actions were in hindsight an error of judgement and he had not stayed at his address but was picked up near the Kampala International Centre is believed.

70. There is still much to be done by the Ugandan Police in preparing the case for court, which is not helped by the fact that there is little or no petrol in Kampala and officers making enquiries are experiencing difficulties in travelling to potential witnesses’ addresses. Both metropolitan police officers have assisted them as much as possible in this matter.

71. Regular meetings were held with the Ugandan Police officers and minutes of the main conference were made and given to the officer in the case and the Director of CID in order that they were fully aware of the various actions to be carried out.

REACTIONS
Investigation. “The State is posturing as if it’s providing security when it does not. Government’s refusal to release the report is itself the explanation of the death. Otherwise if the cause of the death is not in the report what sit on it,”
DP vice president Mukasa Mbidde

In the fourth and last part of the series running tomorrow, find out the conclusions the Scotland Yard investigation drew regarding the killing of Kayiira.