Local Government State Minister Balaam Ateenyi has welcomed the conclusion of the long-running Susan Magara murder case, describing the High Court verdict as a milestone in the pursuit of justice.
In a statement issued after sentencing, Ateenyi praised security agencies for their role in resolving the case that has gripped the region since 2018.
“Thank you UPDF/CMI and CID for successfully concluding this case matter. I thank all officers involved, Frank Nyakairu and team. God bless you. Justice has been delivered. Rest in peace our daughter of the soil, Susan Magara,” he said.
His remarks came days after the High Court in Kampala convicted nine individuals over the kidnapping and killing of the 28-year-old businesswoman.
Two of the convicts were handed death sentences, while seven others received life imprisonment, bringing closure to a case marked by brutality and prolonged legal proceedings.
Court findings established that Magara was abducted outside her residence in Lungujja in February 2018. Her captors demanded ransom from the family, initially set at $1 million before being negotiated down.
Investigations revealed disturbing details, including the mutilation of the victim during captivity, which prosecutors said demonstrated the level of cruelty involved.
Her body was later recovered along the Entebbe Expressway weeks after the abduction, sparking widespread public outrage and calls for swift justice.
The trial, which spanned eight years, relied on extensive forensic evidence, telecommunications data, and witness testimony to link the suspects to the crime.
Ateenyi’s statement reflects a broader government position that the conviction underscores the effectiveness of coordinated security operations.
Authorities have consistently maintained that collaboration between military intelligence and police units was key in dismantling the criminal network behind the abduction.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets linked to the convicts, directing that proceeds believed to have been acquired through ransom payments be transferred to the victim’s family.