By Karim Were
KAMPALA — The High Court has ordered the confiscation and forfeiture of properties acquired using ransom money paid during the kidnapping of businesswoman Susan Magara, directing that the proceeds from their sale be handed over to her family.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by Justice Alex Mackay Ajiji, who also sentenced two convicts to death and seven others to life imprisonment over the kidnapping and murder that shocked the nation.
The court sentenced Nakandi Hajara and Buvumbo Musa Abas to death after finding that they played the leading role in the killing of Magara, while seven co-convicts received life sentences for their involvement in planning and facilitating the crime.
Justice Ajiji ruled that the properties purchased using the ransom money, including 35 acres of land in Buikwe District, an acre of land in Luweero District, several Isuzu trucks, a coaster bus, Hiace vans and vehicles used in the commission of the offence, be confiscated and sold, with the proceeds paid to Magara’s family.
In determining the sentences, the court said it was guided by the principles of retribution, deterrence and the need to protect society, taking into account the role played by each of the convicts.
The judge noted that the offences were carefully planned and executed, describing the crime as one of the rarest and most serious cases under Uganda’s sentencing guidelines.
According to the court, the kidnappers meticulously organised the abduction before, during and after the crime, motivated by financial gain through ransom demands.
The court further cited the brutality of the murder, including the cutting off of the victim’s fingers, the alleged injection of ketamine and suffocation using a polythene bag, as aggravating factors that justified the harsh sentences.
Justice Ajiji also considered the emotional and financial impact of the crime on Magara’s family, which reportedly paid more than **USD 200,000** in ransom and incurred other expenses.
The judgment highlighted concerns about public safety and confidence in the country’s security systems, noting that the convicts deliberately targeted women.
Although the court considered mitigating factors presented by the defence, it found that the aggravating circumstances outweighed them.
The judge identified Nakandi and Buvumbo as the principal executors of the killing, saying they were directly involved in injecting and suffocating the deceased and had custody of her at detention sites in Nateete and Konge.
The remaining convicts, the court ruled, acted with a common intention by planning, aiding and facilitating the offences.
The prosecution was led by Chief State Attorneys Sherifah Nalwanga, Irene Nakimbugwe and Joseph Kyomuhendo.
The Susan Magara case remains one of Uganda’s most high-profile kidnapping and murder cases, drawing national attention to the growing threat of organised crime and the devastating consequences of ransom-related offences.
