KAMPALA – A 47-year-old man was on Thursday arraigned before the Wakiso Magistrate’s Court and charged with the murder of former Buyende District Police Commander Muhammad Kirumira and his friend Resty Naalinya.
Abubaker Kalungi, who is a resident of Mirimu Zone in Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, Wakiso District, was brought to the court in a double cabin pickup under heavy army escort.
He was then arraigned before Grade One Magistrate Martin Kirya who read him the two murder counts; one for killing Kirumira and the other for killing Naalinya.
Mr Kirya told the suspect that the court did not have the jurisdiction to try his case since it is of capital nature only tried by the High Court.
State prosecutor Josephine Nanyonga then told court that she needed more time to investigate the case and prayed for an adjournment.
“Your worship, inquiries are still ongoing. I request the case be adjourned to another date as investigations continue. I pray your worship,” Ms Nanyonga said.
The Magistrate then adjourned the case to October 19 for further mention and remanded Kalungi to Kigo Prison.
The court session lasted about 25 minutes before the suspect was driven out of the court premises at breakneck speed in a convoy of two cars.
It was not immediately revealed where the suspect had been arrested from. However, highly placed sources close to the investigation told this website that the suspect is among the nine who were arrested during a joint security raid last week in Namungoona, Lubaga Division, in Kampala.
During the raid, one Abdul Kateregga, who police later said was the mastermind of the Kirumira assassination plot, was killed.
Security sources further revealed that Kalungi was charged after he was taken to the scene of crime in Bulenga Town on Monday to reconstruct the murder scene from where he is reported to have left the investigating officers in no doubt that he was part of the killers.
This is because, security sources added, he was perfect in reconstructing the murder scene. He allegedly showed investigators the path leading to Kirumira’s home, shops and kiosks from where the deceased regularly bought items like airtime.
“The suspect was perfect and seemed to have studied Kirumira for a long period. He did not tremble and he knew the spot where he picked the lady he was killed with,” sources said.
Kirumira, a fierce critic of the police leadership under General Kale Kayihura, was gunned down alongside his friend Resty Nalinya near his home in Bulenga, Wakiso District, on September 8.
President Museveni has since commended CMI for arresting the suspects during a joint security raid last week in Namungoona.
“Countrymen, Countrywomen and Bazukulu. I am sure I am speaking on behalf of many of you when I congratulate the CMI squads which arrested a number of suspects in the killing of ASP Kirumira on Friday night. Quite a number of them will appear in court soon,” said Museveni.
He added: “In the process, one of them, by the names of Kateregga Abdu, was shot and later died of his injuries. It turns out that Kateregga was one of the ADF terrorists that had benefited from Amnesty in the past. This, therefore, is to put on notice all the killers that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Members of the public that may have some more information about this particular gang of Kateregga should inform the police.”
