Bunyoro kingdom distances self from city lawyer arrested over Susan Magara murder

Bunyoro kingdom has said a city lawyer arrested recently by security operatives is not one of their officials.

A joint security team on Thursday arrested Muzamil Bikanga on suspicion of having been part of the wider scheme that participated in the kidnap and subsequent murder of Suzan Magara, 28 ,a cashier at Bwendo dairy farm in February.

Reports had indicated that Bikanga was one of the current Bunyoro kingdom officials.

In a statement by their Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga, Bikanga was once a member of the kingdom’s cabinet but his services were recently terminated.

“This is to clarify that Mr.Muzamil Bikanga ceased being a member of Bunyoro- Kitala kingdom on January 15, 2018 when his majesty terminated the services of the former Prime Minister Norman Lukumu and dissolved the entire cabinet,” Byakutaga said on Friday afternoon.

“Therefore, media reports referring to him as a Deputy Attorney General or attorney general of Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom are false.”

It is reported that Bikanga’s name had been cited in connection with Magara’s murder by some of the suspects arrested on Saturday morning following a raid by security operatives at Usafi mosque in Kisenyi.

“The kingdom supports investigations that are aimed at ensuring the law takes its course and justice prevails."

Magara,28, was working as the administrator for the family businesses as well as a cashier for Bwendo Dairy Farm in Hoima before she was kidnapped in Mengo as she left work to drive home in Lungujja on February 7.

She was held captive for three weeks, before being killed and body dumped in Kitiko Village between Kajjansi and Kigo along the Entebbe Express highway despite the kidnappers being given Shs700 million ransom that they had asked for.

On Saturday morning, security said two people had been killed and 36 others arrested following a raid on Usafi mosque in Kisenyi.

“One of the key suspects in the murder of the late Suzan Magara run to Usafi mosque in Kisenyi having known that he was being tracked by security agencies. The occupants of the mosque attacked our operatives badly injuring one of them prompting our security team to act in self defence and killed two of attackers,” Internal Affairs minister Gen.Jeje Odong told journalists.

Following the raid on the mosque, the number of those arrested in connection to the murder of Suzan Magara has since gone up to more than 20 despite security being tightlipped on their identities.

Some of the known suspects arrested in connection with the crime include Bob Kibirango and Ronald Asiimwe also known as Kanyankole, whereas Patrick Agaba alias Pato who is believed to have taken the ransom money was arrested in South Africa but the Ugandan government is awaiting a court process before having him extradited back home.