Magara case: Security agencies block Pato’s lawyers

Lawyers of Patrick Kasaija, alias Pato, a key suspect in the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara, say security agencies have blocked them from accessing their client since he was extradited from South Africa

Kampala. Lawyers of Patrick Kasaija, alias Pato, a key suspect in the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara, say security agencies have blocked them from accessing their client since he was extradited from South Africa.
Mr Evans Ochieng, a lawyer, said they visited Special Investigations Division headquarters in Kireka, a city suburb, where Pato is detained, on Friday, but they were sent away.
“They are blocking us from accessing him. We are going to petition court next week (this week) to force them either to produce him in court or release him,” Mr Ochieng said yesterday.

Pato was handed over to Uganda by South African authorities last week. Police allege that the voice in the audio of the kidnapper, who demanded a Shs700m ransom from Magara’s relatives, is of Pato.
Pato is charged with Yusuf Lubega, 32, (a boda boda rider), Hussein Wasswa, 22, (a hawker), Muzamiru Ssali, 27, (boda boda rider), Hajara Nakandi, 35, (a teacher), Abubaker Kyewolwa, 30, (a businessman), Mahad Kasalita (an Imam at Usafi Mosque), Hassan Kato Miiro, 22, and Ismail Bukenya (businessman). All suspects except Pato are on remand.

They are charged with two counts, kidnap with intent to procure a ransom and murder both contrary to sections of the Penal Code Act.
Magara was kidnapped on February 7, 2018 on Kabaka Anjagala Road as she was driving to her home in Lungujja. She was later killed and her body dumped near Entebbe Express way hours after the kidnappers received Shs700m ransom.
Pato’s lawyers said legal representation of a suspect is a right when he is recording a statement especially in this case, which is capital in nature.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga had earlier claimed that Pato’s lawyers accessed him the day he was extradited. Efforts to get a comment from Mr Enanga yesterday were futile as our calls went unanswered.
By last week, security agencies were to test Pato’s audio to establish whether it matches with that of the kidnapper who demanded a ransom.
He is implicated by phone call exchanges between two other suspects Bob Kibirango and Ronald Asiimwe alias Kanyankole.