Superintendent of Police Vincent Irama Urri, 45, accused of murdering city lawyer Ronnie Mukisa, has been released on bail.
Mukisa was trailed and shot dead on May 31 2023 at his home in Kitiko-Birongo village, Makindye-Ssabagabo municipality in Wakiso district.
The General Court Martial (GCM) chairman, Brig. Gen Freeman Mugabe released SP Irama, also attached to Kampala Metropolitan North on a sh2m bond, cash after finding each of his three sureties substantial.
Releasing the applicant, Gen. Mugabe ruled that the offence was bailable, that the applicant proved that he had a fixed place of abode within his court’s jurisdiction, that the sureties were substantial, and that the trial had commenced.
“In the premises, this court finds merit in the application and grants bail to the applicant,” ruled Gen. Mugabe, on Tuesday (October 8, 2024).
Gen. Mugabe ordered the applicant (SP Irama) not to go beyond the limits of Kampala and Wakiso districts without his court’s permission and report to the GCM twice a month after every fourteen (14) days on Fridays.
“The applicant is bound sh2m, cash. Each of the sureties presented is bound sh10m, not cash and the applicant should report to this court as and when required. Breach of any of the above terms will lead to automatic cancellation of bail,” ruled the GCM chairman.
Sureties
Represented by Elizabeth Nyasingwa, this was Irama’s third attempt to seek bail, after his previous attempts all failed on grounds that he would interfere with state investigations.
Amongst Irama’s sureties was Senior Superintendent of Police John Asobasi his friend and workmate attached to Police headquarters at Naguru, Vicent Seruwujo, his neighbour and family friend, and Penina Irama, his wife.
Other co-accused
Irama is charged alongside UPDF officers Corporal Geoffrey Mark Anyesa, 51, a resident of Kisasi, Kulambiro in Nakawa Division, and Sergeant Rashid Ayup Okot, 33, aboding at Kafunda Kazo, Nabweru in Nansana Municipality.
Others are civilians Mzee Josebert Hayeza, 51, Robert Irama Kareodu, 50, and his girlfriend Brenda Cathy Nalwoga, 29, both residents of Kisasi.
Nalwoga, the only female suspect among the accused, and Irama are the only suspects currently on bail, while the rest of the accused are still on remand.
The charge
Prosecution alleges that Irama, Anyase, Ayubu, Hayeza, Kareodu, and Nalwoga on or around May 30, 2023, at around 2300 hours at Katiko in Wakiso district with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Mukisa.
Background and arrest
Preliminary investigations revealed that Mukisa was killed over allegations that he swindled $1m (sh3.7b) from his business partners, who are among the suspects.
Court documents indicate that Mukisa’s business associates Karedou and his wife Nalwoga, who while at the GCM denied any wrongdoing allegedly hired Cpl Anyase and SSgt Ayubu to have him killed.
Anyase and Ayubu reportedly fled from DR Congo, where they had been deployed under Operation Shujaa before completing the said mission.
