Three more suspects including two M23 ex-combatants have been arrested in connection to the shooting of Isaac Sendegeya, a prominent lawyer in Kisoro District.
The suspects are Charles Munyaneza alias Seruhasha and Claude Ndagizimana, both Congolese nationals and Steven Mfitundinda alias Season, a Boda Boda rider in Bunagana town and a resident of Kabaya village in Nyarubuye, Sub County in Kisoro District.
Sendegeya was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at his residents in Nturo village in the wee hours of July 21, 2019. The deceased had earlier been seen at a night club in Kisoro town.
A police detective attached to Kisoro Police station told this reporter on condition of anonymity on Sunday evening that Ndagizimana handed himself to Mbarara Police Station on Saturday from Nakivale Refugee camp and was driven to Kisoro police station.
According to the detective, Ndagizimana surrendered after learning that he was on the list of those wanted over Sendegeya’s shooting and had no way of escaping. The source says that Mfitundinda has confessed to police that they were hired by a group of five people to shoot the deceased.
These were arrested by police on July 23, 2019 for sending death threats to Sendegeya before he was shot.
According to the detective, the group reportedly paid Munyaneza, Ndagizimana and others still at large Shs8 million to kill Sendegeya after he won a civil land case No. 028/2017 on behalf of his client only identified as Migyera against them. Mfitundinda is said to have used a motorcycle to ride assailants to execute their mission.
Mr Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson confirmed the arrest of the three more suspects, saying that they are being detained to Kisoro Police Station as the hunt for other suspects as well as the firearm they used to commit the crime continues.
“We now have six suspects in prison accused of having a hand in the murder of the lawyer. We have already sent the file to the DPP to sanction the charges and thereafter we shall produce the suspects to court,” he said.
This reporter could not independently verify claims whether or not Mfitundinda has confessed to the crime as reported by the police detective.
On July 31, 2019, President Museveni visited the late Sendegeya’s home after his rally at Gisorora playground in Nyakabande Sub County and held a brief meeting with the deceased’s relatives. No public statement was made after the meeting.
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