Retired Judge in Susan Magara Murder Trial Orders Prosecution to Speed up Case

Kampala High Court Judge Alex Ajiji has ordered Prosecution handling the murder case of Susan Magara to rest their case this week noting that he is exhausted by the slow presentation of witnesses. 

The judge’s directive comes after a total of 39 witnesses testifying during the course of the trial that kicked off in July 2023.

Justice Alex Mackay Ajiji, the deputy head of the High Court-Criminal Division, retired form the bench in November last year. A judge of the High Court is free to retire on attaining the age of 65 years in civil service.

According to the law, Article 128(7) of the Constitution states that a judicial officer may continue in office after attaining the age at which he or she is required by law to vacate office, for a period not exceeding three months necessary to enable him or her to complete any work pending.

Investigating officer D/AIP Desire Wandera ws supposed to be the last witness to give evidence yesterday; but Prosecution’s Irene Nakimbugwe applied for another adjournment; 

The Judge demanded to know how many witnesses are left and she responded by saying there were seven more.

On Monday a whole bunch of 34 photographs of motor vehicles used in the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara were tendered in Court as Prosecution’s 85th exhibit in this case.

The photographs were identified by AIP Okello Michael Jackson attached to Directorate of Forensic Services at Kira road.

AIP Okello the 39th Witness told Court that his role in this case was that on 24th/ October/2023 he received instructions from the Investigating Officer who was Prosecution witness number 37;  to take pictures again saying that the photographs of exhibits in relation to this case were stolen together with the camera during an accident that claimed the life of one of their officer Asindurwa.

AIP Okello told Justice Ajiji that he then went to Naguru and Kibuli Police Stations as instructed and took the pictures again of the motor vehicles that had been used in the commission of this crime.

The nine accused persons Yusuf Lubega, Hussein Wasswa, Muzamir Ssali, Hassan Kato Miiro, Abas Buwembo, Mahad Kisaliita, Abubaker Kyewolwa, Ismael Bukenya and Hajjara Nakandi allegedly committed the offence on  7th February 2018 when they kidnapped Susan Magara from her home in Lungujja;

They then asked for a ransom of 700mshs from her relatives in order to release her; but after obtaining the money on 24th February 2018 they allegedly murdered her and dumped her body at Mutungo a Kampala suburb.

They denied the charges and are undergoing trial from Luzira prison.

The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday to hear the 40th Prosecution Witness.