A key suspect has named controversial city businessman Geoffrey Kirumira in the murder of City businessman Eriya Bugembe Ssebunya also known as Kasiwukira.
The late Kasiwukira was the deputy treasurer of the Kwagalana Group, a social club of prominent city business moguls.
After Kasiwukira’s death Kirumira announced a reward of Ugx. 15m to any person who would give useful information to police to identify and arrest the killers.
Testifying on oath on Wednesday, the former Police officer Ashraf Jaden , informed court that his fellow police officers [Julius Ogwang and James Magda] asked him to pin Kasiwukira’s widow Sarah Nabikolo, her cousin Sandra Nakungu and children of the deceased to the murder Kasiwukira.
As a reward, the officer claims he was promised Ugx.200m, a house from city businessman Geoffrey Kirumira. The suspect also told court that he was promised a good rank on job. Jaden formerly attached to Muyenga Community Police Station
“After refusing to take that offer, I received a heavy slap and later I was tortured. I was severely beaten to the extent that the whole of my back is now full of scars and I want everyone in court to see once I am given permission to remove my shirt.” Jaden told High Court presided by Justice Wilson Masalu Musene
In her defense, Nakkungu the deceased’s sister-in-law, told court of how the officer in charge of Luzira prison-women’s wing, Stella Nabunya tortured her so that she implicates her sister (Kasiwukira’s widow) to implicate her in the murder of her husband.
Nakkungu explained to court that the officer had promised her Ugx. 100m and plus a piece of land in Buziga if she implicated Kasiwukira’s widow in the murder of her husband.
“I was picked from Luzira at around 8:00am and taken to Buziga where the land is located. I was then taken in a Rav 4 car Reg. No. UAT 550D in the company of the O.C and other officers,” Nabikolo said.
She added that on refusing to pin her sister, the O.C ordered that she should not be given food thereby making her starve for a number of days.
Kasiwukira was murdered on 17th October, 2014 at about 6am in Muyenga Diplomatic Zone. He was knocked down by a speeding car as he went about with the early morning jogging.
Late 2014, Through Sekabanja and Company Advocates, Kirumira sued Hello Uganda, Red Pepper and Kamunye to stop publishing articles that portray him as the prime suspect in the murder of city businessman Kasiwukira.
In one of the articles, the Tabloids, reported that Kirumira was being, investigated in the murder of Kasiwukira.
The case was adjourned to Monday 5th September 2016 .
Who is Geoffrey Kirumira
Kirumira is one top tycoons in Uganda. He rose to wealth and prominence after the NRM ascended power in 1986.The most prized businesses assets the public know of are Kirumira Towers and a dozen fuel outlets (Shell and Gelp petrol stations). His wealth is estimated at over USD$15M
In August 2012, Godfrey Kirumira was hospitalized after he fainted during an intense interrogation at the Criminal Investigations Directorate in Kibuli over suspected illegal transfer of funds from of Ugx. 190 million from Bank of Baroda onto his account. The money was meant for Kiruhura District.
With all this wealth, one wonders if he really involved in the murder of Kasiwukira.
