Three suspects in connection to the kidnap and subsequent murder of former Ntoroko District National Resistance Movement Chairperson, Japheth Kabagambe Ahebwa have been remanded by the Makindye General Court Martial.
Barnabas Alleluya a businessman/native doctor and resident of Kagando Cell, in Mbarara District, Deus Ahimbisibwe, a driver and resident of Kyakazizi village in Mbarara District and Herbert Mutamba also a businessman and resident of Ncucumo cell in Bushenyi District appeared before the General Court Martial chaired by Lt. General Andrew Gutti.
They were charged with kidnap, murder, aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The charges came after Court heard that the accused together with others still at large, while in Fort portal tourism city at around 4 pm on September 2, 2021, kidnapped Japheth Kabagambe Ahebwa with intentions of murdering him.
Kabagambe who was last seen at one of the ATMs in Fort portal was found dead two days later in a swamp in Ibanda District.
Prosecution told Court that the suspects also robbed Kabagambe of Shillings 400,000 either before or after murdering him. The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lead prosecutors Major Emmy Ekyaruhanga and Captain Ambroz Guma told the court that the inquiries into the matter were still ongoing and asked the court to remand the accused persons up to November 1st, 2021. Gen. Gutti accordingly remanded the suspects to Kitalya prison.
One of the suspects Herbert Mutamba, has a criminal record dating from October 18 2013, when Mbarara High court convicted him for aggravated robbery after finding him guilty of robbing Kalist Nuwasasira of 1.2 million Shillings and other items such as airtime cards for the then Zain, Orange and MTN, a laptop, two Samsung mobile phones, all valued at Shillings 15 million on December 15th 2009.
The records further show that Mutamba used a gun to commit the robbery.
