Susan Magara, 28, a daughter of businessman John Magara was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, on Kabaka Anjagala road in Mengo, a Kampala city suburb.
The trial in the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara has taken a harrowing turn, with video evidence presented in court showing the accused discussing the events that led to her tragic death.
Prosecutors maintain that the original plan was to extort ransom from Magara's family, but when delays occurred, the suspects' actions grew more violent.
A key witness, identified as Witness 22, presented compelling footage involving nine accused individuals, with a focus on Hajarah Nakandi and Abubark Kyewolya.
The videos show the suspects visiting multiple locations, including a church in Natete where Magara was held captive for over a week.
Chillingly, the footage also captures Magara being transported to Kyewolya's home, bound and blindfolded.
"This was intended to be a ransom case, not a murder," the prosecution argued. "But as the ransom payment was delayed, their plan took a sinister turn."
Nakandi, seen in the video, admitted, "My role was to take care of Susan. I witnessed the terrible act of her fingers being cut off. After that, I brought a friend to treat her."
Her admission sent shockwaves through the courtroom.
Kyewolya described how he managed to secure the ransom money, which the family had been slow to release.
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In the footage, he also guides investigators to the site where Magara's body was discovered, near the Kajansi-Entebbe Expressway.
The accused -- Yusuf Lubega, Hussein Waswa, Muzamiru Ssali, Abubark Kyewolya, Mahad Kisaalita, Hassan Kato Miiro, Ismail Bukenya, Musa Abas Buvumbo, and Hajarah Nakandi -- face intense scrutiny as the trial proceeds.
The community continues to follow the case closely, grappling with the chilling details of this brutal crime.
Further testimonies are expected as the court proceedings continue.
Susan Magara, 28, a daughter of businessman John Magara was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, on Kabaka Anjagala road in Mengo, a Kampala city suburb.
She was on her way to her home in Lungujja, about 3km away.
Her kidnappers demanded a $1 million ransom (about Shs3.65 billion at the time) from the family for her release.
Despite the family delivering $200,000 (around Shs700 million) to the kidnappers, Magara was murdered in a gruesome manner that involved decapitating her fingers.
Her body was found three weeks later on August 27, 2018, in Kigo, Wakiso District, where it had been dumped.
Magara worked as a cashier at Bwendero Dairy Farm, a business owned by her father, John Magara.
