New details on key suspect in Magara murder emerge
What you need to know:
- Police said the audio recording of the kidnapper is of Pato and they are to subject him to test and examine to establish whether they both match.
KAMPALA. New details have emerged on how Patrick Kasaija, alias Pato, a key suspect in the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara, who was extradited from South Africa on Wednesday, attempted to evade security detection before they allegedly received the Shs700m ransom.
Pato, who is detained at Special Investigations Division at Kireka, on the outskirts of Kampala was using two passports (one with the name Patrick Agaba and another Patrick Kasaija) as he travelled to and from different countries.
Police spokesman Fred Enanga said on February 17, 2018, Pato left Entebbe International Airport for Zimbabwan capital, but when he reached Nairobi, he claimed he was from Accra, Ghana, and was returning to Uganda.
Concealing evidence
“He returned to Uganda on the same day,” Mr Enanga said.
On the day a ransom was paid, police said Pato travelled by road, through Botswana to South Africa. Magara’s body was dumped on Entebbe Expressway the next day.
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 except Pato are on remand.
They are charged with two counts which include kidnap with intent to procure a ransom and murder, both contrary to sections of the Penal Code Act.
Police said Pato has been able to access his lawyers, but Mr Evans Ochieng, who is representing him, yesterday said he had not met him.
“I am going to meet him tomorrow,” Mr Ochieng said.
Examination
Police said the audio recording of the kidnapper is of Pato and they are to subject him to test and examine to establish whether they both match.
Apart from a video footage of Pato passing through the airport, he is implicated by phone call exchanges between two other suspects Bob Kibirango and Ronald Asiimwe also known as Kanyankole.
Kibirango and Kanyankole were dropped from the list of suspects in April 2018 and as the investigating started pursuing a different line of investigations.
Suzan Magara was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, on Kabaka Anjagala Road as she was driving to her home in Lungujja.
