KISORO – Eight people have been charged with the murder of Kisoro-based lawyer Isaac Sendegeya and remanded to Kisoro central prison.
Among the accused are two former M23 rebels.
They include Charles Munyaneza, 33, alias Seruhasha Saddam, a Congolese national and resident of Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro District and Craude Ndagizimana, 42, a resident of Bunagana Town in Kisoro District.
Others are; Mr Steven Mfitundinda, a boda-boda rider who is alleged to have transported the alleged killers, Ms Scola Nyiramajambere, a resident of Muramba Sub County in Kisoro District who allegedly uttered threats to the deceased lawyer after she lost a civil suit, and Mr Asuman Hagumakwiha, husband to Nyiramajamebere.
Others are Ms Hadija Niyijena and Ms Eliminate Mutesi said to have relationships with Munyaneza and Ndagizimana.
Counsel Sendegeya was shot dead on July 21 at 2am as he accessed his home in Mukingo village, Chihe Parish Nyakinama Sub County. He was returning from Kisoro Town at the time.
The accused persons who appeared before Kisoro Grade One Magistrate, Mr Raphael Vueni, were not allowed to plead to the one count of murder since it’s a capital offense only tried by the High Court.
The Uganda Law Society recently urged government to step measures to safeguard citizens against rising gun violence.
Ms Pheona Nabasa, the vice president of the Uganda Law Society, said they were shocked by the killing of their member and said police should strengthen community policing.
“We have lost a young promising lawyer that loved his people; that is why he opted to work in the rural home district,” Ms Nabasa said in an interview on Sunday.
Mr Timothy Twikirize of Twikirize & Co. Advocates owned by Sendegeya said the deceased was a down-to-earth lawyer and cooperated with colleagues to resolve community conflicts.
He said: “It’s my prayer that the security apparatus in the area should do all that is required to ensure that the culprits are brought to book …”
