By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Kampala High Court has today 19th October, 2023 convicted five individuals for the 2019 double kidnapping and murder of social worker Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimbwa.
All convicted are self-confessed members of the notorious B-13 gang, previously known for snatching women’s bags in Nateete traffic.
The convicts are former shoe hawker, Copriam Kasolo, Johnson Lubega alias Etoo, alias Manomano alias Rasta, Nasif Kalyango alias Muwonge, Hassan Kiseka alias Masadda and Sharif Mpanga alias Shafiq. However, their co-accused Sadat Katerega was acquitted.
In May, 2023, The High Court Judge, Justice Isaac Muwata ruled that the five suspects in the kidnap and gruesome murder of social worker, Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimbwa had a case to answer and should be put on trial to defend themselves against the charges.
Justice Isaac Muwata said basing on the evidence from prosecution witnesses, a prima facie case (strong ground) had been established to warrant the five to make their defence.
“In light of the above evidence adduced by the prosecution, there is need for accused persons to defend themselves pursuant to section 73 (2) of the Trial and Indictment Act. Each of the accused persons is therefore required to defend themselves as required by the law,” Justice Muwata ruled.
The accused include Copriyam Kasolo, Johnson Lubega, Nassif Kalyango, Hassan Kisekka, Sharif Mpanga face six counts of murder, kidnap and aggravated robbery after kidnapping Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimbwa in 2019 from her gate in Lungujja, killed them and later dumped their bodies in Nakitutuli swamp along the Mukono-Kayunga Road.
He said phone data analysis evidence as well as other forms of evidence by the state clearly placed all the five on the crime scene at Lungujja and then Nakitutli swamp in Mukono district.
The judge threw out Kasolo’s claims that he had been tortured by security to force him confess to the murder.
He also noted that Kasolo’s claim that he was detained beyond the mandatory 48 hours cannot stop him from being prosecuted.
