By Vivien Nakitende
An adage goes that a thief has forty days. And so it came to pass when the Police's Special Investigations Department operatives arrested a man who was connected to a murder by the holy bible.
Eid Batambuze aka “Kasambula” and his accomplices had for long metted terror on residents, breaking into their homes in broad day light and robbing them of property. It was a trade they had mastered so well.
Their luck however run out when a businessman, Farouk Mujuzi, the proprietor of Hanz Connect located at Ddembe Shopping Centre and Apple Tower in the city, reported to the Police the loss of valuable items from his shops following a break in.
Mujuzi filed a complaint against Batambuze as the suspect on file number 07/28/09/14 for he was a renowned gang leader in the city.
Operatives from the Department took up the case and embarked on surveillance missions, tracking the suspect's every move. It turned out they were hot on the trail of a suspect who had committed a murder that had seemingly gone cold.
The operatives tracked him to his one-roomed house in Kabowa, Ssembuule Zone where he stayed with his accomplices.
When they searched his house one thing stood out prominently - a bible that Pastor James Mwesigwa of Christ the Rock Worship Centre had procured in the US. It was a priceless posession that the thugs had no clue about.
Pastor Mwesigwa positively identified the bible; it was among other items that had been stolen from his home in Nnyanama, Kisingiri Zone on July 30 this year when Batambuze together with two of his accomplices entered his home and strangled his maid.
They also took sh5m cash, two mobile phones, a laptop bag and curtains.
The murder
On the fateful day Batambuze and his accomplices broke into the pastor's home during the day and found a maid,
19-year old Prossy Namugga.
Batambuze narrated that they ordered the maid to open all rooms in the house and she obliged, but hesitated when she got to the pastor's bedroom.
While they were breaking it down she attempted to make an alarm. This would be the price of her life.
Batambuze told the Police how his accomplices he identified as Faisal and Madoxx jumped the maid and wrung her neck before she could attract any neighbours.
He revealed that the two are mobile phone dealers in the city and even own shops that are run by employees while they carry out their missions.
He also revealed that he works as a mason which gives him opportunity to pick targets.
Following his arrest he led the operatives to their hideout where two other accomplices, Habibu Ssemwanga aka “Mudakyuti” and Steven Niyoshuti were arrested. Faisal and Madoxx are still on the run.