Police boss extols CID over successful prosecution of Nagirinya killers 

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martins Okoth Ochola, has praised the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) for gathering incriminating evidence that led to the successful prosecution of the killers of former social worker Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimba.

The duo was kidnapped and killed on August 28, 2019, by a group led by Kopriano Kasolo outside Nagirinya’s home in Lungujja, Lubaga Division, Kampala. They were killed inside the vehicle, and their bodies dumped in Takajjunge village in Mukono district. CID, working with the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) team and the Flying Squad Unit (FSU), successfully traced the suspects and apprehended them from their various hideouts in Lubaga.

Based on the evidence gathered by CID detectives, High court judge Isaac Muwata found Kasolo and his three co-accused guilty last week. Kasolo received a life sentence, while Hassan Kisekka, Nasif Kalyango, and Shafiq Mpanga were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

They joined Isaac Ssenabulya, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the counts of murder, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery. Ochola has commended the successful prosecution of Nagirinya and Kitayimba’s murderers as a significant achievement for the CID and the entire team involved in gathering incriminating evidence.

The IGP’s message is contained in a statement issued by police spokesperson, senior commissioner of police (SCP) Fred Enanga. Ochola also praised sister security agencies such as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and the Special Forces Command (SFC) for their swift action when heinous crimes are committed. 

The police chief emphasizes that the successful prosecution of Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa murderers, as well as the kidnap and murder of 4-year-old girl Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi in Jinja district, could have dragged on if the sister security agencies had not provided the necessary support to apprehend the culprits.

Nakisuyi was the daughter of John Mulodi and Annet Nakisasi, both residents of Kakira cell in Jinja city. The minor was kidnapped and killed as part of a sacrificial ritual by pastor Joseph Sselubiri of the Healing and Deliverance church. Sselubiri confessed to the murder. His girlfriend Felista Namaganda, 28, was also sentenced to life imprisonment last week.

“We would also like to recognize the outstanding collaboration and partnership with the office of the DPP (directorate of public prosecutions) which resulted in the successful prosecution of the suspects and their conviction,” Ochola said.

Ochola also thanked the judiciary and the respective High court judges for successfully hearing, evaluating the evidence, and convicting the suspects. Although the killers of Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa have been convicted, the former’s father, Francis Lubowa, last week asked to know who instructed Kasolo and the group to kill his daughter and for what reasons.

Lubowa’s insistence results from the fact that the suspects initially said they received the assignment to kill Nagirinya before their release from Luzira prison. However, throughout the prosecution process, the suspects did not reveal who assigned them to kill Nagirinya and for what reasons.