Magara family narrates how kidnappers took Shs740m

The family of the late Susan Magara has narrated how kidnappers demanded, received a $200,000 (about Shs740 million) ransom but later killed her.
The family members testified before the High Court presided over by Justice Alex Ajiji that the kidnappers asked them to drop the money at Kanaaba-Ndejje Village in Makindye –Ssaabagabo Municipality in Wakiso District.

Ms Florence Magara, an aunt of Susan, told court that she received a message on her phone on February 7, 2018 from the kidnappers demanding  the ransom, and later on February 22, the same kidnappers instructed her to go and pick the ransom from her brother (John Magara) whom they had accused of failing to honour their agreement.

“On that very night of February 22, my brother gave me bundles of US dollars but I did not count it and the kidnapper called me again at about 8pm and told me to wait for further instructions,” Ms Florence testified.
She added: “On February 23 in the morning as I was walking to town, I [missed a call] and when I called back it was the kidnapper.  He asked for my car number plate and told me to drive to Makindye Military barracks and I park at Sim Towers.”

Kidnapper’s instructions
Ms Florence narrated that she was instructed by the kidnapper to drive to Kibiri Primary School off Busabala Road where she was to pick a phone and continue moving ahead where she was to get a boda boda that would later drop her to Ndejje Parents School where she dropped the money in the middle of the road on February 24, 2018.

Upon dropping the money as instructed by the kidnappers, Florence said when she returned home waiting to receive Susan, John only received a telephone call asking him to go and identify a body that had been dumped on the Entebbe Expressway.

She was testifying against nine men who are undergoing trial over the alleged kidnap and murder of Susan Magara in February 2018.
The suspects are Yususf Lubega, Hussein Wasswa, Muzamiru Ssali, Hajara Nakandi, Abubaker Kyewolwa, Mahad Kisalita, Hassan Kato Miiro, Ismail Bukenya and Musa Abbas Buvumbo.   

Sad news
Ms Renata Regina Magara, a sister of the deceased, said she received a message about the kidnap of her sister while in Nairobi, Kenya, which she confirmed through her mother and father. 

“I learnt that my mother had received calls from a kidnapper and that is when I downloaded automatic voice recorders in their mobile phones to record the conversations.  I locked myself in the bedroom and I counted the money.  I confirmed it was $200,000.  I even took the pictures,” she said.
Florence and Renata were the sixth and seventh prosecution witnesses in the case. Other family members who testified were Mr John Magara and his wife Immaculate.
Justice Ajiji extended the hearing of the case to October 30.