How Kayiira was killed

1. why scotland yard?
This report concerns enquiries into the murder of Dr Kayiira, 46, also former Minister of Energy, who at the time of his death on March 6, 1987, was residing at Lukuli-Konge village, Kampala. To clear its name, the government through President Museveni, sent telegrams to UK and Canada, asking for help with investigations. UK responded by sending Detective Chief Superintendent Thompson (Serious Crime Branch) and Detective Sergeant Sanderson (Laboratory Liaison Officer) at the direct request of President Museveni.

2. Circumstances of case
On March 6, 1987, at about 11.00pm Dr Kayiira and his friend Mr Henry Gombya, a BBC stringer, were having a meal with Gombya’s wife, Vicky Navva, 24, and three other girls, Josephine Babirye, 19, Julian Nabwire, 14, and Annet Namatovu, 23, when a number of men believed to be about 10 to 14, entered the garden compound and attacked the persons present.
At the time of the attack, it was dark and the house was without electricity due to power cuts and the only lighting was that provided by a storm lamp hanging from the side wall nearest where the occupants were.
Some of the attackers had torches and according to the witnesses, at least three of the attackers had fire-arms, one an AK-47 sub-machine gun.
Exactly what transpired will be examined in greater detail further in the report but suffice it to say the occupants of the house ran into the premises, including Dr Kayiira and Mr Gombya and hid themselves in their respective rooms.
Subsequent events show that Dr Kayiira was shot four times (two in the right arm and twice in the left side of the body), injuries from which he died and Mr Gombya made his escape via the front security gate and hid in a banana plantation after first separating the sum of Shs40 million into two halves and throwing one half in a box into the matooke plantation which adjoins the house. The remaining half was left for the attackers and is part of the property stolen from the house. None of the other occupants of the house, i.e. the three girls, were apparently injured although Vicky Naava states that she was kicked and punched.
3. Background information
Before looking at the evidence surrounding the murder, it is of use if the reader was made aware of the backgrounds and events involving the main principals, i.e. Dr Kayiira and Mr Gombya.
Uganda has since their independence from Britain in 1962 been in regular unrest and in particular since 1971 when the Milton Obote I Government was overthrown by Idi Amin’s Ugandan Army.
Obote went into exile in Tanzania and formed up an army called the UNLA (Ugandan National Liberation Army) and with the assistance of the Tanzanian Army overthrew Amin’s Government in 1979.
In 1980, [The Paulo Muwanga-led Military Commission] held elections and UNLA were retained. However, in 1985, Dr Obote was overthrown by his Commander Tito Okello Lutwa and the UNLA continued.
In 1986, Okello Lutwa was himself overthrown by the NRA (National Resistance Army) led by Yoweri Museveni.
It was during the 1980 elections, which [returned Dr Obote to power] it is alleged by some people was rigged that the NRA was formed in the bush by, at the beginning, 27 men.
It was during Museveni’s time in the bush that he met up with Dr Kayiira’s UFA (Ugandan Freedom Army) and its political wing the UFM (Uganda Freedom Movement).
Suffice it say Museveni overthrew the Okello Lutwa government in 1986 at which time Dr Kayiira had joined Okello Lutwa government. After the coup, Dr Kayiira joined forces with Museveni.
Despite President Museveni’s friendship with Dr Kayiira, there had been recent mistrust of him by the President as a result of which Dr Kayiira was arrested in October for allegedly plotting against the Government and subsequently released by the court on February 24, 1987, due to lack of evidence.
The release of Dr Kayiira surprised some people and the subsequent murder of Dr Kayiira led to the strong rumours that his death was politically motivated and had been caused by the Government’s hand.
It against this background that evidence surrounding the investigation into Dr Kayiiraa’s death must be viewed.
4. Events leading up to the murder
Mr Henry Gombya is a BBC stringer and although his work involves reporting matters of interest to news agencies on freelance basis, he is undoubtedly very well connected with many government officials and also strongly suspected of being involved in black market business transactions involving foreign exchange. In Uganda, the exchange of currency on the black market appears to be the rule rather than the exception.
Gombya is a married man and although he claims that his wife is Vicky Naava, it is known that he has a wife called Betty living in Uganda.
Whatever the situation domestically, Gombya on February 22, 1987, rented a four-bedroom house at Lukuli-Konge Village in Kampala and moved in with Vicky Naava. His rent was Shs1.2 million (500 pounds) per month and he paid one year’s rent in advance. It was at his house that the murder took place.
Dr Kayiira as already stated, has been a leading figure of the UFA and UFM and a close friend of President Museveni although relations had been strained recently. Dr Kayiira was also a close friend of Gombya although only having met him in 1985 and prior to the murder the two had been seen very often together. It is also strongly rumoured that while Dr Kayiira was in prison, money sent to him from America for his UFM officers was being looked after by Gombya. This fact, however, is difficult to confirm, and Gombya recently denied this to the officer reporting. What is agreed, however, is after Dr Kayiira’s release from prison on February 24, 1987, Gombya went to prison to ask why he had been released and further to request that he should be re-arrested. The reason for this action is, however, unknown due to Gombya leaving Uganda after the murder and is therefore a matter of conjecture.
It is significant, however, that Gombya allowed Dr Kayiira to stay at his house after his release from prison.
It was because of the above facts and the political overtones that the subsequent murder of Dr Kayiira was quickly seized on by various factions to suggest that his death was not only politically motivated but might even have been carried out by President Museveni’s soldiers on the President’s orders. This charge is emphatically denied by the President.
In Part II tomorrow, read whether Kayiira killing was for the Shs50m stashed away in the house of his friend, Henry Gombya.