The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has revealed that 105 suspects have been arrested over nine high profile murders.
The revelation was made by Police bosses during a meeting held at Parliament on Thursday between Police and MPs on the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee.
This was after MPs demanded to have an update on investigations into the recent murders across the city.
Asan Kasingye, Chief Political Commissar, who presented the report on behalf of the IGP Martin Okoth Ochola, detailed how far investigations into the eleven high profile murders have gone, revealing that a total of 105 suspects have so far been arrested in connection to r 9 high profile murders in the country.
Police started with the most recent murder case of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Muhammad Kirumira and his friend Resty Mbabazi, saying that 9 suspects have been arrested, but only one had been arraigned before courts of law.
On the brutal murder of former Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga, Kasingye said no arrests have been made.
He revealed that a forensic audit of the exhibits found at the scene of crime is ongoing, with a view of identifying the suspects.
No arrests have also been made in as far as the murder of former Senior Principal State Attorney, Joan Kagezi is concerned.
Kagezi was gunned down on 30th March 2015 on her way home in Kiwatule. Police said that there are specific leads being followed regarding the main suspect.
On the 17th March 2017, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Felix Kaweesi alongside his body guards, were murdered.
Police revealed that 8 suspects have been committed to the High Court while 7 suspects in the murder of Maj. Mohammed Kiggundu and Sgt. Steven Mukasa have also been committed to High Court for trial.
Additionally, the report also indicated that nine suspects have been remanded to prison and three are still at large in the murder of Susan Magara while 17 suspects committed to the High Court for trial in the murder of 23 women in Nansana Municipality and Katabi Town Council in Entebbe.
The report also highlighted that regarding the murder of Sheikh Abubakar Muhammad Kiwewa, investigations into the matter are still ongoing with one suspect having been remanded to prison, while 11 suspects have been tried in the High Court and six convicted in the murder of Sheikhs, Ibrahim Kirya and Mustafa Bahiga.
In the killings of Sheikhs Mudungu Yunusu, Abdul Ssentugga and Ductoor Muwaya, the report showed that 38 suspects had been arrested with many rotting in jail with some of the cases standing at pre-trial stage at the High Court.
Regarding the death of two foreign nationals Terasvouri Thomas (Finish) and Sebastiano Axel, a Swedish, Police revealed that 5 suspects have been charged in Court.
However, Butambala County MP, Muwanga Kivumbi, who also doubles as Shadow Minister Internal Affairs questioned Police’s capabilities, wondering why only one conviction has been made since the serialized killings started in 2012.
“You continue to arrest, but perpetrators still commit the killings with impunity. Are you really up to the game in coming to burst this gang? How effective is the intelligence, if you arrest 100 and same murders are committed in the same style, that means there is a possibility that you’re failing to burst the organization,” Kivumbi said.
However IGP, Ochola defended the pace of investigations into the murders stating that whereas Police’s duty is to adduce evidence and hand over to the Director of Public Prosecution, Police has no hand in when Courts cause list these cases.
“…. We adduce evidence and give it to DPP. How matters are handled between DPP and court, we have no control,” Ochola said.
