The gruesome murder of 69-year-old David Mutaaga and his 62-year-old wife, Deborah Florence Mutaaga, in Entebbe has sent shockwaves across the country, putting law enforcement under intense scrutiny and igniting a heated confrontation between the Uganda Police and the press.
During a tense press conference at Police Headquarters in Naguru, ACP Kituuma Rusoke lashed out at New Vision, condemning what he described as “extreme” and “unfair” claims made in a recent publication.
The article, published last Friday, accused police of mishandling the high-profile investigation, likening their efforts to a game of catch-and-release with suspects—a portrayal Rusoke firmly rejected.
The police spokesperson clarified that while several arrests have been made, they are grounded in actionable intelligence and specific leads uncovered through a meticulous, multi-agency probe.
He defended the release of some individuals, explaining it was due to a lack of concrete evidence, not incompetence or mismanagement. “Individuals taken in for questioning have been released only when there is no substantial evidence to pin them to the crime,” he stated.
Rusoke was adamant that painting the operation as a failure was not only misleading but dangerous, asserting that the actual perpetrators remain at large and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing. He described the double homicide as one of the year’s most horrific crimes.
In a significant move to ramp up the investigation, Rusoke revealed that the reward for credible information had been raised from 50 million to 60 million shillings, under orders from the Director of CID.
He urged the public to come forward with any useful information, promising full protection for informants and absolute confidentiality for whistleblowers.
The Mutaagas were killed on the night of July 6th by unidentified attackers who reportedly struck at their home in Lugonjo-Nakiwogo Cell, Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District.
The couple had only recently returned to Uganda after a prolonged stay in Europe—a detail that has fueled speculation about whether their return made them targets.
The initial alert to police came from their shamba boy, Ronald Golooba, who suspected a robbery had taken place. However, what began as a suspected theft quickly escalated into a case of brutal murder, sparking national outrage and demands for justice.
The case has dominated media coverage, stirred public emotion, and left even experienced detectives shaken.
With 60 million shillings now offered for information, the police are leaning on public cooperation to crack the case.
As Rusoke noted, “The search is far from over,” and for those behind the killings, time may be slipping away.
