Two men suspected of kidnapping and murdering a 52-year-old woman have been arraigned before the Wakiso Chief Magistrate’s Court and charged with three capital offenses.
Abubakar Ntege, 32, a resident of Kiteredde, and Shafic Kagga, 26, a boda boda rider from Nakuwadde-Bbira, appeared before Chief Magistrate Naume Sikhoya. The duo faces counts of kidnap with intent to procure a ransom, aggravated robbery, and murder under the Penal Code Act.
According to the prosecution led by Ms. Peninnahjoy Nakaweesa, the accused committed the offenses between June 3 and June 4 in Kiteredde village, Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District.
The charge sheet states that the suspects kidnapped Lydia Babirye from her home in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb. They allegedly used her mobile phone to demand a Shs19 million ransom from her family “for liberation from the danger of murder.”
In addition to the kidnap, the prosecution alleges that Ntege and Kagga robbed Babirye of two mobile phones (a Samsung and a button phone), her National Identity Card, and ATM cards for ABSA and Centenary banks before killing her.
Following a missing person’s report, police tracked the suspects using the deceased’s phone, which was being used to extort money from the family. The tracking led detectives to Kakiri, where they discovered Babirye’s decomposing body alongside a freshly dug grave that the suspects reportedly intended to use to conceal the corpse.
Speaking to journalists before the court session, Ntege denied murdering Babirye but admitted to knowing her intimately. He claimed she was a long-time friend and former lover, though they had parted ways after discovering they belonged to the same clan.
“It is true the lady died from my home… She died when we were having sex,” Ntege claimed. “The incident prompted me to do a lot of things, including calling the family to ask for money.”
Local residents expressed relief over the arrests. Matia Bogere, a resident of Mabombwe, described the suspects as idle individuals previously linked to similar criminal activities. “They even use weed. Let them keep them in custody; we shall get some relief,” Bogere said, noting that the suspects preferred crime over legal employment.
State prosecutor Nakaweesa informed the court that investigations are ongoing and requested an adjournment to gather more evidence. “I request one more month to do further investigations about this case,” she stated.
Chief Magistrate Sikhoya noted that her court lacks the jurisdiction to try capital offenses.
“The offense is capital in nature, and this court cannot handle such cases,” Magistrate Sikhoya ruled. “Let the suspects be remanded as the state gathers more evidence.”
The suspects have been remanded in custody, and the case was adjourned to July 8 for further mention.