UPDF deserters pinned in Mobile Money agents murder case

UPDF deserters pinned in Mobile Money agents murder case

Police detectives have pinned four suspects who are accused of killing two mobile money agents in Zana on Entebbe Road in June. 

Harriet Nalwadda and Moreen Nakabuubi were shot dead by gunmen riding on motorcycles on June 10, 2019.

The gunmen made off with Shs6.8 million.

Four suspects including Bob Anichan, a UPDF deserter formerly attached to Uganda Military Academy Kabamba; Dennis Mangusho, formerly attached to the 63^rd  Battalion; Stanley Mulunda alias Jumba Frank, a casual labourer from Masanafu and Issa Ntale, alias Ganja a Boda Boda rider, were arrested over the crime.

They are being tried in the Army General Court Martial.  

On Monday, they were pinned over the crime by Lt. Col. Raphael Mugisha; Detective Assistant of Police Dickens Ebwang Chris, the officer in charge of Criminal Investigations at Katwe Police Division and Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Patrick Sembatya from Entebbe Police Station.

Mr Ebwang told the General Court Martial chaired by Lt. General Andrew Gutti that he was sent by his supervisor, ASP Nasser Mulimira to investigate a case of armed robbery in Wakasanke, Lugala and Masanafu in Lubaga Division, Kampala.

He said that during the mission he found Stanley Mulunda, one of the suspects in the custody of Police Flying Squad operatives.

Mulunda had reportedly sustained severe injuries as he tried to access wall fenced house to rob.

Mr Ebwang told the military court that he searched the suspect’s home and recovered a motorcycle number plate and two rifles.

One riffle, he said had 26 rounds of live ammunition while the second gun had six rounds of ammunition. 

The detective said he recovered a body armour (bullet proof jacket), four cartridges an Itel phone and a hammer.

Mr  Ebwang tendered in all the items he reportedly recovered from the suspect’s home to court as exhibits. 

Detective Patrick Sembatya, the second witness, told court that he recorded a charge and caution statement from Mulunda at the Special Investigations Department in Kireka.

 He told court that Mulunda confessed to have killed Nakabuubi and Nalwadda before running away with their money which he shared with his accomplices.  

Mulunda also reportedly explained how weeks later, they stole Shs16 million from a woman in Nateete and threw away her vehicle keys to stop her from chasing them.

He reportedly pocketed Shs6 million as his share from the robbery mission.

Sembatya also narrated to court how Mulunda claimed in his statement that while in Luzira Prison sometime back, he met some friends who directed him to the Democratic Republic of Congo where he bought a cheaper magazine of live ammunition, at Shs220,000, to facilitate their robbery missions.

 During cross examination, Mulunda who moves on clutches told court that he confessed to the crimes to escape torture.

He also denied having signed the statements that were produced in court. 

Gen Gutti adjourned the case to November, 12.