Two men accused of kidnapping, robbing and murdering businesswoman Lydia Babirye have been formally charged and remanded to prison by the Wakiso Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Abubakar Ntenge and Shafic Kagga appeared before Chief Magistrate Naume Sikhoya on Monday and were charged with kidnap, aggravated robbery and murder in connection with Babirye’s death.
According to the prosecution, the offences were allegedly committed between June 3 and June 4, 2026, at Kiteredde Village in Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District.
The court heard that the accused persons allegedly kidnapped Babirye before robbing and eventually killing her. Due to the capital nature of the charges, the suspects were not allowed to enter pleas, as such offences can only be tried by the High Court.
The pair was remanded until July 8, 2026, when the case will return to court for mention as investigations continue.
The arraignment marks the latest development in a case that shocked residents of Kampala and Wakiso after Babirye was reported missing and later found dead despite her family reportedly paying a ransom demanded by her captors.
From Missing Person to Murder Investigation
Lydia Babirye, a 52-year-old businesswoman and resident of Kigowa in Ntinda, was reported missing on June 4 after she disappeared under mysterious circumstances. According to police, her abductors later used her mobile phone to contact family members and demand Shs19 million in ransom for her release.
A joint security team launched investigations and arrested several suspects. Detectives eventually linked Ntenge and Kagga to the kidnapping. Police say Ntenge was arrested in Nateete and, during interrogation, allegedly led investigators to his residence in Kiteredde Village, Kakiri Town Council.
It was there that detectives made a gruesome discovery.
Babirye’s body was recovered from the suspect’s house in a decomposing state, wrapped in a mattress cover and tied with ropes. Investigators also found a freshly dug grave within the compound, which authorities suspect may have been prepared to conceal the body.
The body was later taken to KCCA City Mortuary for a postmortem examination as detectives pieced together the final moments of the businesswoman’s life.
Growing Concern Over Ransom Kidnappings
The murder has renewed concerns over a resurgence of kidnapping-for-ransom cases within the Kampala Metropolitan area. Security agencies have in recent months reported several incidents in which victims were abducted and relatives forced to pay money for their release. In some cases, victims have been killed even after ransom payments were made.
Police have not yet disclosed the motive behind Babirye’s killing, saying investigations are still ongoing. However, authorities have previously indicated that the circumstances surrounding the case suggest motives beyond the reported ransom demand.
As the case progresses through the courts, Babirye’s family continues to seek justice for a woman whose disappearance triggered a frantic search, only for it to end in a tragic discovery in Wakiso District.
