Five years since the gruesome murder of Susan Magara on February 7, 2018 the High Court is set to hear the trial of several suspects. The high profile hearing will commence next week .
However , the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo, has withdrawn charges of murder and kidnap with intent to demand a ransom against one of the key suspects Patrick Kasaija, aka Pato. Kasaija was arrested by Ugandan security agencies with support of the South Africa government .
Mr Kasaija appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 07 March 2018.
However, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development granted an order that he should be extradited to Uganda.
The Justice and Correctional Services of the Republic of South Africa, in terms of the Extradition Act, ordered that Kasaija be surrendered to Uganda.
“This extradition was as a result of the good collaboration and cooperation the South African law enforcement agencies and Ugandan authorities,” said South Africa Police . At the time ,the Ugandan authorities said they had gathered sufficient evidence which incriminates Mr Patrick Kasaija’s in the kidnapping and murder of the victim.
This leaves nine suspects that will face trial for the murder of Susan Magara that shocked the nation . The DPP expects to produce well over 40 witnesses to convince court and secure a conviction for all the suspects .
Susan Magara was the cashier of Bwendeiro dairy farm .She and was kidnapped and held captive for almost a month her kidnappers and tormentors asked her family to pay a ransom of USD1 million (about Ug.Shs 3.6bn.)
After receiving some USD200,000 ( Shs.ug 700m) they still went ahead to kill the innocent Magara and dumped her mutated body in Kitiko village between Kigo and Kajjansi along the Entebbe expressway. on February 27, 2018.
The other committed suspects are Abas Buvumbo, Yusuf Lubega aged 32 (boda boda rider), Hussein Wasswa, 22, (hawker) Muzamiru Ssali, 27, (boda boda rider) Hassan Kato Miiro, Hajara Nakandi, 35, (teacher) Abubaker Kyewolwa, 30, (businessman) Mahad Kasalita, an Imam at Usafi Mosque and Ismail Bukenya .
Their trial will be presided over by Justice Alex Ajiji of the High Court Criminal Division.
