In a shocking turn of events, Musa Musasizi, a 23-year-old former street child turned businessman, has been sentenced to over 100 years in prison for a gruesome murder spree that claimed the lives of five people within a single month in 2021.
Musasizi, who initially pleaded guilty to the charges, admitted to murdering five individuals, including four of his girlfriends and his own 3-month-old baby. The horrifying series of events began in February 2021 when he strangled his girlfriend, Mackline Ahereza, after she demanded money to start a business. Musasizi then concealed her body in a suitcase, transported it via boda boda to a remote area in Nateete, and set it ablaze after dousing it in paraffin.
Kassaga Abudl, an accomplice who helped dispose of Ahereza’s body, received a four-year prison sentence at Luzira prison.
Unfazed by the initial crime, Musasizi continued his murderous spree. He lured Violet Kansiime and her three-month-old baby, Abigail Nakitende, from their home under false pretenses of marriage and a brighter future. He brutally strangled both mother and child and attempted to conceal the crime by wrapping their bodies in curtains, dumping them near the Nankulabye police station, and setting them on fire.
The spree continued with the murders of Nourine Nabirye and Elizabeth Muteesi, whose bodies were similarly burned. High Court Judge Margaret Muntonyi described Musasizi's actions as barbaric and savage.
The breakthrough in the case came when Ahereza's stolen Nokia phone, sold by Musasizi to a third party, led to his arrest on March 21, 2021. He pleaded guilty to all charges before Justice Muntonyi.
While the court contemplated the death penalty, Judge Muntonyi ultimately sentenced Musasizi to a cumulative total of 35, 32, 27, 40 years, and 21 months for each individual murder, respectively. She argued that a single life sentence could not adequately compensate for the multiple lives he had taken.
In her sentencing remarks, Justice Muntonyi drew parallels between Musasizi and a character from the 1956 film “Killer on the Loose,” emphasizing that his actions were a horrifying reality that traumatized the Nankulabye community. The judge expressed concerns about the potential number of victims had Musasizi remained free.
Recognizing Musasizi’s lack of mental illness and his calculated targeting of victims through romantic relationships, Judge Muntonyi stressed the need to protect young girls, including Musasizi’s own six-year-old daughter, from his “wicked soul” by imposing a lengthy sentence.
Justice Muntonyi concluded by underscoring the sacredness of each life and the gruesome nature of Musasizi’s crimes, categorizing him as a serial killer who exploited the trust granted to him by his victims. Musasizi has the right to appeal the sentence length but not his conviction. The community now grapples with the aftermath of these shocking events, seeking solace and justice for the victims.
