Residents of Nabisasiro Village, Busega in Rubaga division from where the slain Maria Nagirinya was kidnapped, claim that they heard her screaming but they thought it was the usual petty crimes.
Nagiranya, who was snatched from outside her residence while she waited for the gate to be opened, was heard screaming: “temuntwala, temuntwala (don’t take me)”, and several moments later, her sister Bernadette Nakidde was also heard crying out for help as she tried to intercept the kidnappers.
However, residents in the area claim that they have so many incidences of petty theft, including several boda boda men and other thugs who snatch ladies’ handbags and people’s phones.
“We usually have issues here of phone theft, bags and those are small things, so we thought it could be that. But we were so shocked to discover later that it is our own resident who was being taken to be murdered,” Edward Busuulwa, a resident in the area said.
“It was about 11:30 pm when we heard. Nagirinya’s people always take some time to open the gate and we can’t tell where the men came from to seize her and dash off,” he added.
The LC 1 chairperson for Nabisasiro village, Clement Kizza, also claimed that there was a distress call from Nagirinya which must have been heard by a number of residents, but no one came to rescue.
Another resident claims that on hearing the screams, some people tried to chase the car including boda boda riders, but they were outrun.
“There were men on bikes that were leading the car, some people tried to chase after then but they couldn’t. The car and the boda bodas took Rubaga road and disappeared,’” a resident claimed.
Nagirinya’s sister Bernadette Nakidde, however, claims that despite her outcry to have a rescue for her sister come through, no one helped.
“I shouted and screamed for help, but no one came,” she said tearfully.
I saw the man who took my sister, and I am scared for my life- Family witness
