Police have arrested two men over the kidnap and murder of Lydia Babirye, a 52-year-old real estate dealer based in Kampala. The arrests were made by the Flying Squad under the Directorate of Crime Intelligence, working with the army.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire identified the suspects as Shafiq Kagga and Abubakar Ntege.
Officers first picked up Kagga in Bulenga, Wakiso district. He then led them to Ntege, who was found at Hass Petrol Station in Nateete, Kampala.
“Upon interrogation, Ntege led us to his residence in Kiteredde village, Kakiri town council in Wakiso district, where we recovered the victim’s body,” Owoyesigyire said.
Inside Ntege’s house, detectives found Babirye’s decomposing body wrapped in a mattress cover and tied with ropes. The suspects also showed police a grave they had dug on the premises where they planned to bury her.
After examining the scene for evidence, the body was taken to City Mortuary for a post-mortem.
How the kidnap unfolded
Police say Babirye left her home in Kigoowa-Ntinda, Nakawa division on 3 June to meet a relative on Entebbe Road.
The next day, her twin sister Sylvia Nakato reported her missing and told Old Kampala Police Division that kidnappers were demanding Shs19m.
Babirye’s family managed to send Shs7m to Kagga’s mobile money number. During questioning, Kagga admitted he asked for the money on Ntege’s behalf.
Ntege later confessed he was holding Babirye’s body at his home in Kiteredde village. When found, Babirye was dressed in a black blouse and trousers with her hands tied by rope, ready for a secret burial.
Doctors believe she was suffocated to death using a polythene bag because there were no bruises or injuries on her body.
At first, Ntege told investigators he had been in a relationship with Babirye and that she died of natural causes at his home. Police dismissed the claim after the post-mortem showed she had been suffocated. The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
