Masaka murders key suspect goes missing as state struggles with evidence
by URN · The ObserverTony Ssenyonga, a key suspect in the murders that occurred in the Masaka sub-region has reportedly gone missing.
About 15 suspects including two MPs; Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) were arrested in relation to the killing of 26 people in the districts of Lwengo and Masaka last year.
The other suspects are; Benard Musumba, Faisal Kabuye, Paul Ssekajigo, Frank Tamale, Badru Kirega, Mike Sserwadda among others who are waiting to be committed to High court to face trial. But on Wednesday, Masaka resident state attorney Richard Birivumbuka told court that they are struggling to compile the evidence to support the trial.
Birivumbuka told the Masaka grade one magistrate Christine Nantege that they have failed to locate Ssenyonga from Kitalya Prison, where he was remanded.
Ssenyonga is one of the suspects who confessed to the killings and offered to reveal all his accomplices. According to Birivumbuka, the state had preferred to make amendments in charge sheets of other suspects, and present Ssenyonga as a key witness but they are not in a position to locate his whereabouts.
Bernard Musumba one of the suspects on remand in Kitalya prison, has pleaded with the court to release them on mandatory bail, arguing that they exhausted the six-month period within which investigations can be done. Nantege gave the state up to April 6 to produce Ssenyonga else she grants the suspects mandatory bail.
However, Frank Baine the spokesperson of the Uganda Prison Services says they were not aware of the alleged missing of the suspect.
“No suspect can go missing in our hands, we are going to trace for him as soon as we are informed about it,” Baine said.
Ssenyonga was arrested on August 31 last year from Kyazanga health centre IV in Lwengo district, where he had been dumped by residents after beating up him during a security operation.
It is alleged that the suspect was found walking at night with a machete and dressed in pair of trousers similar to those of the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) personnel.