crime 13 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Two Sentenced to Death for Assassination of Eng. Daniel Bbosa
The High Court in Kampala has handed down a death sentence to Lujja Bbosa Tabula and Noah Lugya for their involvement in the assassination of former Ndiga Clan leader, Engineer Daniel Bbosa. Both convicts pleaded guilty to the murder charge. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/high-court-sentences-two-to-death-in-eng-bbosa-clan-dispute-assassination-5556882
Lujja Bbosa Tabula and Noah Lugya have been sentenced to death by the High Court in Kampala for their role in the February 2024 assassination of Eng. Daniel Bbosa, the former leader of the Ndiga Clan. The duo pleaded guilty to the murder charge, accepting the facts presented by the prosecution.
Justice David Matovu determined that the premeditated and brutal nature of the crime warranted the most severe penalty under Ugandan law. “Given the motive and the various groups involved, this is one of the cases where a maximum sentence has to be passed,” the judge stated. While acknowledging the convicts’ remorse and their saving of court time by admitting guilt, Justice Matovu emphasized that these mitigating factors were overshadowed by the gravity and calculated execution of the murder.
Evidence presented by the prosecution indicated that Tabula supplied the firearm used in the killing and tracked Eng. Bbosa to Katosi before the attack. Ballistics later confirmed the weapon matched spent cartridges found at the crime scene. Eng. Bbosa was shot dead on February 25, 2024, as he returned home from a clan function. Armed assailants on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle near his residence.
Justice Matovu warned the public against taking the law into their own hands and condemned mob justice, referencing the death of Enock Sserunkuma, an alleged co-conspirator who was beaten to death by vigilantes shortly after the assassination. Lugya was also nearly a victim of mob justice, requiring rescue by security agencies.
Prosecutors revealed that the killing stemmed from a chieftaincy dispute within the Ndiga Clan. Tabula had reportedly contested Eng. Bbosa’s leadership, claiming the clan seat was his birthright. The court learned that the plot involved disguised motorcycle license plates and clandestine planning meetings.
The judge highlighted the far-reaching impact of the assassination, affecting Eng. Bbosa’s family, the Ndiga Clan, the Buganda Kingdom, and the nation, given his prominent status. Tabula and Lugya were remanded pending execution. Three co-accused individuals, Harriet Nakiguli, Joseph Nakabake, and Ezra Mayanja, maintain their innocence and will face trial on September 8.