Policeman Baguma hands himself in, remanded to Kigo

Former Central Police Station DPC Aron Baguma has been charged and remanded to Kigo Prison. He faces charges of murder, aggravated robbery and  kidnap.

In company of his lawyer Abraham Mpumwire, ASP Baguma turned himself in at Buganda Road Court at 2.15pm on Tuesday and appeared before  Grade One Magistrate Joan Aciro. He was not allowed to plead to these charges which are only tried by the High court.

Baguma is  jointly charged with eight people including the Pine Car Bond proprietor Muhammad Ssebuufu for the murder of a city businesswoman Donah Betty Katushabe over a delayed  payment of  sh9 million debt after a car purchase.

His lawyer Mpumire however applied to court that his client be remanded to Kigo Government Prison instead of Luzira, where Ssebuufu and seven of his co-accused are remanded. State prosecutor  Peter Mugisha never objected to this request.

Later on special  transport (pick-up) was called to take Baguma to prison until Thursday when he will return to court with three of his co-accused who have not yet been committed for trial.

Earlier, the murder  trial  of  Kampala businessman Ssebuufu, also the proprietor of Pine car bond had been called off until further notice from the High Court -criminal division.

Ssebuufu and some of his co-accused had been cause listed to be part of the 50 capital offences to be handled by Justice Musene in a criminal session that commenced on Monday.

However according to the deputy registrar  Mary Khainza, Ssebuufu ‘scase was de-cause listed to allow police and the DPP arrest and commit other suspects, who then included  former Kampala DPC Baguma.

Khainza had said that Ssebuufu and co-accused will now wait for the next convenient session to stand trial.

Now, Family writes to DPP

Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn, the family of the late Donah Katushabe has asked the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to drop charges against Baguma.

“Your Lordship we request that SP Aron Baguma be dropped from among the accused persons,” they said in a letter signed by Masereka Alex Epafura, the head of the family.

They gave four reasons including that “from the day when we got to know about the death of our sister, it’s Aron Baguma who as DPC of CPS helped us in uncovering the rot that some other officers in Police had done in ensuring that the murderers of our sister walk away scot-free.”