Grieving Susan Magara’s Father Narrates Loss of Daughter, Over UGX700million To Assailants

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In a heartbreaking testimony before the High Court in Kampala, the father of Susan Magara, a Bwendeiro Diary Cashier who was kidnapped and murdered five years ago, disclosed that he paid a US$200,000 ransom to the kidnappers in a desperate bid to secure his daughter’s safety. Tragically, despite his efforts, his daughter’s life could not be saved.

John Fitz Gerald Magara, a 58-year-old businessman based in Hoima and Kampala, appeared as a prosecution witness in a case involving nine individuals charged with kidnapping for ransom and murder of his daughter. The events in question occurred on February 28, 2018. The suspects are Abas Buvumbo, Yusuf Lubega, Hussein Wasswa, Muzamiru Ssali, Hassan Kato Miiro, Hajara Nakandi, Abubaker Kyewolwa, Mahad Kasalita, and Ismail Buckeye.

Magara has expressed concerns regarding his safety and the security of his family. He has requested that the media refrain from disclosing his current place of residence and image due to potential security threats.

Upon receiving news of his daughter’s kidnapping on February 7, 2018, he swiftly journeyed from Hoima to Kampala. The kidnapper, fluent in Runyoro, demanded a staggering ransom of US$1 million, asserting that he indeed had his daughter.

Over several days of negotiations, the kidnappers refused the family’s offer of Shillings 100 million ransom and agreed only to a discounted sum of US$50,000. To secure her release, Susan Magara personally spoke to her mother, pleading for the ransom money.

A settlement was reached, with the family agreeing to pay US$200,000. The kidnappers instructed John Magara to drive his wife’s car along Masaka Road to make the drop. The police were alerted to the instructions. When they reached Mpigi, the kidnapper told Magara to pick up a phone from the “Welcome to Mpigi” signpost, where further instructions would be given. However, the police intervened, and the mission was called off.

On February 17, 2018, the kidnapper made another call, instructing John Magara to take Bombo Road up to Mattuga, where he would receive further directions on where to drop the ransom. As he was being given instructions to retrieve another phone from a school signpost, the police officer in the back seat of his car intervened, leading to the mission’s cancellation.

Two days later, around 3 p.m., the kidnapper contacted John Magara and directed him to go to Hass Petro Station in Namasuba along Entebbe Road to retrieve a message or package from their daughter, Susan Magara. The kidnapper instructed John Magara’s sister, Flora Magara to drop the money in Busabala. The family, this time, chose not to involve the police, thinking it would solve the issue.

They successfully delivered US$200,000 as instructed. John Magara waited in anticipation of Susan’s return, but his hopes were shattered. On February 28, 2018, he received a call from President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, instructing him to go and identify a body with two missing fingers. He went to the scene in Kigo, along the Entebbe-Express Highway, and tragically identified his daughter’s lifeless body. Susan Magara was subsequently laid to rest on March 1, 2018, in Hoima.

During the trial, audio clips were played in court, revealing conversations between the kidnapper, Susan Magara’s mother, and John Magara. In these clips, the kidnapper asked the parents if they loved their daughter and warned that something would be done to Susan Magara if the ransom was not paid, stirring emotions among the court attendees.

The background

The case centres around an alleged kidnap-for-ransom scheme devised by the accused individuals, some of whom remain at large. Susan Magara was the unfortunate first victim of this scheme. The prosecution contends that she was abducted in Lungujja and held captive for three weeks while the kidnappers negotiated a US$1 million ransom with her family.

After receiving US$200,000 of the ransom money, the prosecution alleges that the kidnappers murdered Susan Magara and disposed of her body in Kitiko. The investigation revealed that Magara had overheard conversations between Hajara Nakandi’s visitors while in captivity, prompting the kidnappers to decide her fate in a meeting at Usafi Mosque.

In order to protect themselves from being identified and arrested, they made the decision to suffocate her using a polythene bag, ensuring that she would not be able to disclose their identities.

Patrick Kasaija, also known as Agaba Pato, was previously charged with the kidnapping of Joan Cora Alupo. However, those charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. Currently, there are nine individuals who are still on trial for the Susan Magara case.

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