A shocking revelation has emerged in the case of the murder of Kampala paralegal Ronnie Mukisa, as it has been unveiled that a senior police officer was at the center of a conspiracy to kill him in a hired murder scheme worth $1 million (approximately Shs3.7 billion).
According to the latest update from the police, the suspected killer claimed that Superintendent of Police (SP) Vincent Irama, the deputy commander of Kampala Metropolitan North police, chaired the meeting orchestrating the plot to murder Mukisa.
Police had previously detained Irama as one of the four key suspects closely linked to the brutal killing that occurred on May 30.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga disclosed that investigations revealed a business conflict between the victim and two suspects, Robert Karedou and his wife Brenda Nalwoga, who alleged that Mukisa had swindled over $1 million from them.
Karedou and Nalwoga, in collaboration with their friend SP Irama, reportedly hired Corporal Max Anyuse as a hitman.
After 11 days of intensive investigation and intelligence work, a task team managed to arrest the three main suspects: Karedou, Nalwoga, and Cpl Anyuse, from their residence in Kasana LC I Kulambiro.
The subsequent search led to the recovery of military uniforms, two AK 47 magazines with 52 rounds of ammunition, and other items.
Cpl Anyuse allegedly contacted Nalwoga on May 30 to inform her that he had successfully carried out the mission, shooting Mukisa four times as he approached the main gate. Anyuse, who had been following the victim in his dark blue Subaru, then fled the scene on a waiting motorcycle.
However, during further interrogation, Anyuse changed his statement and led investigators to the weapon he had abandoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The gun was found wrapped in a polythene bag and hidden behind the boys’ quarters at rented apartments in Kitiko-Birongo. SP Irama was subsequently arrested at Kawempe police station, and a search of his known premises led to the recovery of an official pistol and an AK 47 rifle with 30 bullets.
“A search at his known premises led to the recovery of a pistol (official) and an AK 47 rifle with 30 bullets. Two bullets had been newly replaced. The guns and bullets recovered have been submitted to the ballistics expert for further forensic examination,” Enanga explained.
The recovered firearms and bullets will undergo forensic examination by ballistics experts. Additionally, another suspected murder weapon, recovered on June 12, 2023, will also be examined by the ballistics expert.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the four suspects will face charges of murder and related conspiracies. He reassured the deceased’s family and the public that investigators are diligently working to apprehend the remaining culprits.
Joint security forces strongly condemned the brutal murder, expressing their disappointment in the actions of the two officers involved. They emphasized that such indiscipline and aggressive behavior have no place in the forces and do not represent the disciplined nature of the police and UPDF (Uganda People’s Defense Forces).
“We would like to assure the family of the deceased and the public that our investigators are working tirelessly to arrest the few remaining culprits,” Enanga noted in a statement.
“There is no place for such kind of gross indiscipline, barbaric and aggressive behavior in the forces. The actions of the officers are regrettable and not representative of the two disciplined forces (police, UPDF),” Enanga emphasized.