{UAH} Top crimes that rocked Uganda in 2013

Top crimes that rocked Uganda in 2013

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The suspects in the attack on Mbuya barracks, L-R, Lt. Augustine Moro, Pt. Kenneth Okello Kalokwera in the dock at Makindye Court Martial early this year. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA.  

By Andrew Bagala

Posted  Monday, December 23  2013 at  02:00

IN SUMMARY

From murders to sex crimes to corrupion scandals, all that rocked 2013 have been highlighted.

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Kampala

The year 2013 has been a year of events, dramatic in some cases, tragic in many others. Crime has on the one hand dominated media headlines, despite the police stating a drop in crime rates compared to last year. We bring you some of the top crimes that characterised the year.

Rakai family murder
On January 13, unknown people slit the throats of nine members of the same family in the remote village of Kyebe in Rakai District. Pastor Steven Magembe and his family members were sleeping when the killers struck in the wee hours of that fateful night. The killers drilled a hole in the wall and entered without detection. They butchered the nine members and left without taking any property. The head of Homicide at police headquarters, Mr William Okalany, was dispatched to take over the investigations. But to-date, investigations have failed to get the culprits.

Entebbe shooting
On the day the UPDF soldier shot 10 people dead, businessman Derek Coggon, owner of 4 Turkeys Pub in Entebbe, was also shot dead at the gate of his residence. His wife and a man believed to be her secret lover and a private security guard were charged with murder in court. The accused are still on trial.

Nebanda’s death saga
The year began with the hunt of Adam Kalungi, the former boyfriend of the late Cerinah Nebanda, the Butaleja District Woman MP who died under mysterious circumstances at her boyfriend’s residence in Buziga, Makindye Division in mid December 2012. Police claimed Nebanda died of excessive consumption of narcotic drugs.

Bombo shooting leaves 10 dead
After a futile rape mission near Bombo army barracks, a Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldier, Pte Patrick Okot Odoch (pictured), shot 10 people dead on March 9. Three days earlier, Odoch had tried to rape a girl but she raised an alarm and he fled. The girl’s parents reported the matter to the police. Odoch threatened revenge. While on duty on the night of March 8, Odoch left his post armed with a loaded rifle and went to a bar outside the barracks where he found parents of the girl having a drink. He opened fire, killing the parents, the owner of the bar and six others instantly. Two people were wounded. Odoch left and on the way he shot another person dead, before robbing a woman of a hand bag, mobile phone and cash. He was later arrested from his hiding in Oyam district, tried in the military court. He was sentenced to 65 years in jail.

Top pub shooting

On October 6, two men fought over a prostitute at Top Pub on William Street in the heart of the capital, Kampala. The pub is known for loud music and a sea of commercial sex workers that roam the place all night. One of the men drew a pistol during the quarrel and began shooting indiscriminately. The shooting triggered a stampede as people scampered for safety. When calm returned, Johnson Rukundo, a bouncer at the bar, was lying lifeless. Five others were seriously wounded. The man who shot fled but abandoned his pistol at the scene. Police said the pistol belonged to a private security firm in Kampala. They also closed the bar. Four people, including the bar manager were arrested. The status of the case and the whereabouts of the killer are unknown.

Sex crimes
Sex related crimes also took a toll on the country. There have been several cases of sexual molestation against women and underage girls. In October, five Pakistanis were accused of gang-raping and sodomising a 23-year old woman after luring her into their residence with promises of employment. The accused were reported to have compromised the police to kill the investigations into the case until the matter exploded in the media. By the time the matter spilt to the press, it had been on the police records for nearly a year having been reported in December 2012.

Police top management took over the investigations and two suspects Mr Ahamad Shahbaz and Mr Muhammad Wagas were charged in court and remanded to Luzira prison. The case is still in the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Buganda Road pending committal to the High Court for trial. Police issued warrants of arrest for the co-accused Mr Zaheer Muhammed and Mr Sadiq Muhammad who are still at large. The 23-year-old woman is undergoing treatment.

MP KIPOI treason case
Bubulo West MP Tony Kipoi Nsubuga was in January arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court with seven soldiers on treason charges. He was remanded to Luzira Prison.

Crime minister’s office scam
Investigations into alleged corruption at the Office of the Prime revealed that over Shs50 billion was swindled through a chain racket of several officials who connived and forged to execute the fraud. Only the Principal Accountant, Geoffrey Kazinda, was convicted and is serving a four-year jail term. Others the police implicated in the scam were only transferred to other ministries and the investigations have seemingly stopped.

Chinese molester
The Chinese national, Yang Zhengjun, who allegedly sexually molested girls in his home, was arrested but when he was produced to court, he fainted in the dock and he had to be lifted by prison warders. The applied for bail on grounds that he needed special treatment.

Pension scandal
In January, police finally got to the bottom of the pension scandal they had been investigating for more than a year. Eight senior government officials accused of swindling more than Shs165 billion by remitting it to bank accounts of 2,605 ghost pensioners were charged in the Anti-Corruption Court and remanded to Luzira prison. They include, Mr Jimmy Lwamafa, the Permanent Secretary of Public Service, Mr Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa, director research and development, Mr Christopher Obey, the principal accountant and Mr David Oloka Japians, senior accounts assistant, all under the Ministry of Public Service.

They were released on bail after paying a Shs50m bond. They are still on trial. Detectives spread their nets wider to the banks where the pension scam was allegedly executed. In February, Cairo Bank and Stanbic Bank were raided by detectives and over 15 workers were arrested. Some officials were charged but others only recorded statement at police and were released on bond pending further investigations.

Attack on Mbuya
On March 4, armed people attacked Mbuya Army Barracks in Kampala. In the ensuing fire exchange one of the attackers Captain Omolo, was killed and others arrested. Lt Augustine Moro, Pte Kenneth Okello and a private security guard, Ivan Ebong, were arrested in connection with the attack and are still on trial.

Chris mubiru
What had been a rumour for years in the football fraternity came to light this year when a video emerged of him allegedly sodomising youths. Efforts of the police to arrest him were futile until recently when he was arrested and his file has been sent to the DPP for studying.

Namungoona fuel tragedy
On June 29, over 40 people perished in an inferno after a fuel tanker collided with a car at Namungoona on the Northern Bypass. Motorists and passersby scrambled for the spilling fuel. As they scooped the fuel with jerry-cans, it exploded into fire that killed them. Ambulances raved and hospitals filled. The actual number of the dead and wounded casualties has never been established. The driver of the fuel tanker was arrested and charged with 42 counts of causing death and nine counts of causing bodily harm to the fire victims. He denied the charges and was released on bail at Nabweru Chief Magistrate’s Court.

abagala@ug.nationmedia.com

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower