By Makana Kennedy Ndyamuhaki – Updated at 01:02 EAT on Tuesday 5th March 2024

July 11, 2005, was a day that forever changed the lives of those who knew Robinah Erina Kayaga Kiyingi. The promising lawyer met her tragic end at the gate of her home in Konge, Makindye, a Kampala suburb, where she was brutally shot five times in the head by assailants who had followed her home from the city center.

The subsequent investigation into her murder would uncover a web of conspiracy, corruption, and impunity that continues to haunt Uganda’s justice system to this day. Among those arrested were her husband, Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi, an Australia-based cardiologist, along with a police officer, a bodyguard, and a UPDF soldier alleged to have pulled the trigger.

However, the case took a sinister turn when the alleged triggerman, Pte John Atwine, died under mysterious circumstances while in custody at Luzira Maximum Prison, reportedly poisoned. Another state witness, Lt Ceasar Enya, was shot dead at his home in Kireka, and months later, the chief investigator in the case met a similar fate.

Despite the mounting evidence and suspicious deaths surrounding the case, a trial was conducted, and six months later, Kiyingi and his co-accused were acquitted. Justice Rubby Aweri Opio cited the weakened prosecution case due to Atwine’s death as a key factor in the acquittal.

However, the pursuit of justice did not end there. In December 2006, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed a notice of appeal against Justice Aweri’s judgment, accusing him of failing to properly evaluate the evidence implicating the trio. Yet, ten years later, the appeal remains unheard, despite efforts by the judiciary.

The failure to bring the perpetrators to justice has left many unanswered questions and fueled speculation about the true motives behind Robinah Kiyingi’s murder. Was it a botched robbery, a political assassination, or a domestic dispute gone awry? The lack of closure has only added to the anguish of her family and friends, who continue to demand answers and accountability.

As the case languishes in legal limbo, the memory of Robinah Kiyingi serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Uganda’s justice system. The failure to prosecute those responsible not only perpetuates a culture of impunity but also undermines public trust in the rule of law.

For now, the quest for justice remains elusive, but the fight for truth and accountability continues. Until the perpetrators are brought to justice and the full extent of the conspiracy behind Robinah Kiyingi’s murder is exposed, her memory will continue to haunt Uganda’s conscience, a testament to the need for a justice system that serves all its citizens, regardless of their status or connections.

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