By Davis Mugabi
The Member of Parliament for Buwekula County, Pascl Mbabzi, has been summoned over the murder.
Other summoned are: LCV Chairperson, Mubende district, Muhereza Ntambi Michael. They are expected to record statements over allegations of incitement to violence and other conspiracies that led to the horrific murder of Namutebi Milly Nava, a 54-year-old peasant and one of the Administrators to the Estate of the late Zakariya Saku Kikonyogo. She was murdered together with her husband, Kayizi Abdullah, aged 53, on July 31, 2023, at around 7:45 a.m.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says investigators have also recorded a statement from the LC3 chairperson, Kiruma Sub-county, in Mubende district, Ahimbisibwe Steven, a male, aged 37.
“As you are all aware, five suspects, who include Tumusiime Benjamin, Rukundo Prince alias Muhwezi, Birija Job, Kakaire Zainab, and Basemeire Milly, were charged to court on August 11, 2033, on charges of murder, attempted murder, and being accessories after the fact of muster. They were remanded to Kaweri prison till September 15, 2023.The facts gathered indicate that on July 30, 2023, Nava Namutebi Milly (now deceased) sent two of her workers to go and prepare her gardens (on a 3-square-mile piece of land that was under dispute) for the planting season. They were blocked by Tumusiime Benjamin, who told them to go back and return with their landlady. The following day, July 31, 2023, at around 7:45 a.m., the victims, Nava Namutebi, in the company of her husband, Kayizi Abudallah (also deceased), and their two sons, Kawuma Ibrahim and Ssekamate Muzafaru, went to meet Tumusiime Benjamin and thereafter proceeded to their gardens.They were unfortunately attacked by a group of squatters who had been mobilized by Tumusiime. They emerged from the nearby bushes and homes with spears, pangas, hoes, sticks, stones, etc. and aggressively assaulted and hacked both Nava Namutebi Milly and her husband Kayizi Abudallah to death. Their two sons, Kawuma Ibrahim, aged 21, and Ssekamatete Muzafaru, aged 17, escaped with serious injuries.A serious hunt for 11 other suspects, who include Serugo Sulait, Kimbugwe Ibra, Seguya Wilber, Semuli Tadeo, Ndayisaba David, Taremwa John, Kemirembe Beatrice, Nakyambadde Annet, Mpeela Lamila, Nakamatte Resty, and Nakalyango Racheal. It is alleged that they are part of the squatters who were mobilized by Tumusiime Benjamin; others double as relatives of some of the politicians who were fueling the conflict. The land under dispute is a 3 sq. mile piece out of the 8 sq. mile piece of land situated at Buwekula Block 60, plot 1. The disputed land covers the villages of Kilwani, Kayunga, Lukyamuzi, and Bulega in the sub-counties of Madudu and Kiruma in Mubende district. The long-standing dispute is between the administrators of the late Zakariya Saku Kikonyogo Estate (Nava Namutebi Milly, Bulasio Lule Musoke, Kaaya Henry, Hussein Shambe (a grandson), and the squatters). Enanga told journalists on Monday.
According to Enanga, “There is no doubt that this tragic murder was heinous, senseless, and unprovoked.”
“We do strongly condemn such blatant acts of impunity in the community, where innocent lives are lost over property. Their tragic deaths have left an enormous gap in the lives of all their family and friends. Efforts are in place to track down all the suspects still at large and ensure they are brought to book,” he said.
