Rubanda: How Arrest of Murder Suspects Helped Decrease Homicide Related Cases

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A senior Police officer, testifying in court, has asserted that the number of homicide-related cases in Rubanda district notably decreased following the arrest of five murder suspects in 2020. In 2020, two of these suspects received a five-year jail sentence each after pleading guilty to murder charges.

Before their convictions, all five individuals were accused of causing the death of a local resident named Semu Twinomujuni through the use of a firearm typically exclusive to the defense forces. The alleged crime, which was characterized as having malice aforethought, supposedly occurred in August 2019 in Kibugo cell, Rubanda. The weapon in question was identified as an SMG rifle with the serial number UGZ0100019779, engraved as UP POL 563617886.

Presently, three men remain on trial: Valence Bakebuza (26), Alex Byanzi (29), and Police Constable John Peter Odongo.

The two convicts are Simeo Aryatuha (27) and Enock Tumwesigye (37).

AIP Joyce Mburagina, the head of the Child and Family Protection Unit at Rwampara Central Police Station, played a key role in the operation that led to the arrest of these suspects.

She testified as a witness before the General Court Martial, chaired by Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe, on Thursday, September 28. Mburagina stated that Aryatuha had confirmed that Byanzi and Bakebuza had delivered the firearm to him, which was the basis for their arrest. She further asserted that since the arrest of the suspects and convicts, murder-related cases had decreased in Rubanda district, although specific crime rate figures were not provided.

Mburagina explained that the majority of residents in the area were Irish potato farmers, who tended to have more money during the harvest season, making them targets for criminals. However, this pattern had changed since the arrests.

She stated, “And from the best of my knowledge, we, as security, believe the suspects’ arrest might have led to a reduction of murder crimes in our area of work.”

In response to questioning from the defense team, Mburagina clarified that she did not claim the suspects were responsible for the murders but merely presented this information to the court.

This testimony came after the court chairman, Mugabe, gave the state an ultimatum of three weeks to complete the investigations or risk having the case dismissed. The defense team had raised concerns about their clients spending three years on remand without trial and had requested the court to discharge the suspects.

Under Ugandan law, the offense of murder is governed by Sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act Cap 120 and carries a maximum sentence of death upon conviction. The case of the three remaining suspects was scheduled for further hearing on October 24.

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