President Yoweri Museveni has condemned the murder of Susan Magara by unknown thugs, laying blame on the lack of street cameras and use of unregistered simcards.
As a result, the President directed that no mobile or fixed phone SIM cards should be given to anybody without the electronic identity card (National Identity Card).
In a condolence message released by Senior Presidential Media Advisor Don Wanyama, a somber Mr. Museveni, said that cameras would be put up in various areas of the country, in a bid to deter crime, the type which claimed Ms. Magara’s life.
‘The gaps we have been having in the towns have been lack of cameras and unregulated sale of mobile phone SIM cards to people without electronic identity cards,’ Mr. Museveni said.
The President, who kept a tab on developments since Ms. Magara’s kidnap, disclosed that he was informed about the tragic events on February 7 while he was in Arua-Koboko-Nebbi, and received further briefing on his return on February 18.
‘Friends and Abazukulu (grandchildren), I write to convey condolences to Mutabani (son) Magara and family on the brutal murder of our grand-daughter, Susan Magara,’ Mr. Museveni wrote.
He added: ‘Susan’s murder shows what sort of swine (pigs) we have in Africa that do not value treasures like the beautiful Suzzie whom, unfortunately, I had not had the opportunity of meeting’.
The President also pointed at the possibility of capturing the palm-print and DNA of every Ugandan, saying it would bolster efforts aimed at curbing crime.
‘DNA records of everybody are good to compare with blood samples, sweat, sperm etc found at the scene of crime. Palm-prints are better than thumb prints because the criminal may leave the palm-print and not thumb print,’ Mr. Museveni noted.
Meanwhile, at Ms. Magara’s funeral service held at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church in Mbuya today, Lenny Muganwa, a grandfather to the deceased, revealed that the President was coordinating the information between the family and those investigating the kidnap.
He also added that it is the President who called to inform the family about the death of the deceased.
Police has since released a voice recording of her alleged kidnappers, and also offered a reward of Shs100m for anyone who can help identify the voice on tape.
Ms. Magara, a daughter to businessman John Magara and grand-daughter to former Public Service Minister Henry Muganwa Kajura, was kidnapped about three weeks ago, and after some time her tormentors demanded a US$1 million ransom. However, in a strange twist the kidnappers decided to end her life in a most gruesome way and later dumped her body in Kigo along the Southern Bypass.
Ms. Magara will be laid to rest at her ancestral village in Kitoba, Hoima district.
