“We’ve had difficult days from the 7th of February when we started looking for Susan,” he told mourners at the requiem mass at Mbuya Lady of Africa Catholic Church on Wednesday. (full video via NTV above)
Magara narrated his engagements with police, how the contacted the kidnappers, negotiated and President Yoweri Museveni’s intervention. He said President Museveni followed the investigations closely, and he narrated how they asked that the family go with the demands and offer the ransom.
He did not confirm how much the family offered, but the kidnappers had reportedly demanded for sh3 billion.
“I thought I was talking to ordinary criminals who we would discuss thinking their main motive would be money but ten days ago, they delivered two of her fingers and a recording of a ‘must see’ video which I handed over to police without watching it. I asked them to tell me what was in it,” he said.
“We offered what they asked for but nothing happened….we got concerned something was going wrong after days without her being released,” he said.
Magara stated they only confirmed news of the death after they saw the body, saying in conclusion that “It gave me some relief that she was dead and we wouldn’t be looking for Susan anymore. We live in fear now because we do not know the motive why all this happened… we wait for answers.”
Suzan Magara’s body was found off the Kampala Southern Bypass between Kigo and Kanjansie and police have offered sh100 million to whoever has information that can lead to the arrest of suspects in this murder case.
Police have shared a recording of the suspects. Apart from the police audio, another audio was posted on social media indicating negotiations between the family and the suspected kidnappers (below).
Magara, 28, went missing the night of Feb 7, 2018 near Mengo in Kampala. Her car was found abandoned 100m from her residence.
This case is similar to that of Francis Ekalungar, 49, an accountant at Case Hospital in Kampala who disappeared, was killed and his body burnt beyond recognition last month. After Case reported a case of a missing person, his body was discovered in Kajjansi, a city suburb of Kampala.
POLICE AUDIO
AUDIO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Voice recording of one of the suspected murderers. We appeal to the public if you can positively identify the voice in this recording please call these toll free number 0800199044 , 0800199055 pic.twitter.com/OwfGWI0xkJ
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) February 27, 2018