John Fitz Gerald Magara, a 58-year-old businessman from Hoima and Kampala, has given a harrowing testimony in the High Court in Kampala, shedding light on the tragic kidnapping and murder of his daughter, Susan Magara, five years ago. Susan Magara, a Bwendeiro Dairy Cashier, was abducted and subsequently killed in a horrifying ordeal.
Magara appeared as a prosecution witness in a case involving nine individuals who stand accused of kidnapping for ransom and the murder of his daughter, Susan. The events in question took place on February 28, 2018, and the suspects include Abas Buvumbo, Yusuf Lubega, Hussein Wasswa, Muzamiru Ssali, Hassan Kato Miiro, Hajara Nakandi, Abubaker Kyewolwa, Mahad Kasalita, and Ismail Buckeye.
During his testimony, John Magara expressed deep concerns for the safety and security of his family. He requested that his current place of residence and image not be disclosed in the media due to potential security threats. He recounted the heart-wrenching events that unfolded after his daughter's abduction.
Susan Magara's kidnapping occurred on February 7, 2018, when the kidnapper, who spoke in Runyoro, demanded an exorbitant ransom of US$1 million in exchange for Susan's life. Over several days of negotiations, the kidnappers refused the family's initial offer of Shillings 100 million and insisted on a discounted ransom of US$50,000.
To secure her release, Susan Magara personally spoke to her mother, pleading for the ransom money. A settlement was reached, with the family ultimately agreeing to pay US$200,000. The kidnappers instructed John Magara to drive his wife's car along Masaka Road to make the drop, but the police were alerted to these instructions, leading to the mission's cancellation.
The kidnapper made another call on February 17, 2018, instructing John Magara to go to Hass Petro Station in Namasuba along Entebbe Road to retrieve a message or package from his daughter. The family, this time, chose not to involve the police, thinking it would resolve the situation.
They successfully delivered the $200,000 as instructed, hoping for Susan's return. However, on February 28, 2018, John Magara received a call from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who directed him to identify a body with two missing fingers. He went to the scene in Kigo, along the Entebbe-Express Highway, and tragically identified his daughter's lifeless body. Susan Magara was laid to rest on March 1, 2018, in Hoima.
During the trial, audio clips were played in court, revealing conversations between the kidnapper, Susan Magara's mother, and John Magara. In these clips, the kidnapper asked the parents if they loved their daughter and warned that something would be done to Susan Magara if the ransom was not paid, stirring emotions among the court attendees.
The case revolves around an alleged kidnap-for-ransom scheme orchestrated by the accused individuals, some of whom remain at large. Susan Magara was the unfortunate first victim of this scheme. The prosecution contends that she was abducted in Lungujja and held captive for three weeks while the kidnappers negotiated a US$1 million ransom with her family.
After receiving US$200,000 of the ransom money, the prosecution alleges that the kidnappers murdered Susan Magara and disposed of her body in Kitiko. The investigation revealed that Magara had overheard conversations between Hajara Nakandi's visitors while in captivity, prompting the kidnappers to decide her fate in a meeting at Usafi Mosque.
They feared that her release would lead to their identification and arrest, leading to their decision to suffocate her with a polythene bag to prevent her from revealing their identities.
The prime suspect, Patrick Kasaija, also known as Agaba or Pato, had previously faced separate charges for the kidnapping of Joan Cora Alupo, but these charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. Currently, nine individuals are on trial for their involvement in the Susan Magara case, and justice continues to unfold in the courtrooms of Uganda.
