IHK’S DR CATHERINE AGABA WAS STRANGLED BY THE GUARD
The police and sister security agencies, actively investigating the disappearance of Dr. Agaba Catherine, of International Hospital Kampala, [IHK], today. Monday, 22nd April, 2019, recovered her body in a septic tank at her rented premises at Kalungu Road, Muyenga, Kampala District.
The task team built on clues surrounding the subsequent conduct of the local guard, called Obangakene Ronald, a 24 year old male adult, who disappeared after the victim went missing. He was tracked down and arrested in his home village, Adyeda, Loro sub county, Oyam District, where upon interrogation, he confessed of the murder and provided details, which led to the recovery of the victim’s body.
The scene was reconstructed and the events leading to the horrific murder established as follows; on the 12th April, 2019, the victim returned home at around 8:30 pm, to a quiet and remote setting, at the apartments of Hajji Ibrahim Kiwanuka.
She was attacked inside the gate, by the local security guard, who accused her of threatening his job, when she reported him for not being alert on duty to his employers. He strangled her to death and dumped her body in the septic tank. He, immediately after, picked her house keys, smart phone and gained access to her apartment, where he stole several portable household items and escaped to Oyam district by bus. The disappearance of the victim was reported at Kabalagala police station on the 15th, April 2019, by her boyfriend, Mohammed Hassan and inquiries instituted immediately.
Upon arrest, the suspect led the task team to his sister’s home where the exhibits that included; a home theatre music system, a 32” Flat TV screen, a laptop, GoTV decoder, double –plate cooker, gas cylinder, flask disk and a smart phone were recovered from.
Police refers to this case as a premeditated and straight forward case of murder, with revenge and theft as the motivation. The task team is now focusing on the facts and physical evidence, to establish whether the suspect worked alone or with some other accomplices.
Police says that the incident occurred within a perimeter wall; which made easier for the murderer to accomplish his ill-mission. Therefore police calls for increased vigilance and neighbourhood watch, which are force multipliers in the fight against crime.
Police says it will continue partnering with the community to promote target hardening initiatives like; private CCTV cameras, formal patrols, use of phone trees, Whatsapp platforms and use of environmental designs, because of the positive impact they make in securing our communities.
Police appeals to all landlords and property owners, to ensure thorough vetting and background checks are conducted before hiring security guards. In this instance, the suspect was handpicked, as a local guard, without undergoing any rigorous background checks, and training on guard duties and related responsibilities.