Two men captured by surveillance cameras drowning Hakim Mutyaba in a canal in Ghent, Belgium have been identified as Dutch nationals.
However, Police has declined to release CCTV footage and faces of the alleged killers.
The suspects according to media reports have been arrested in their home country- Holland.
According to media reports, the federal government of Belgium is working with Dutch authorities to have the suspects tried in Ghent where they committed the murder.
Mutyaba, 53, a father of three was trailed by the suspects as he attended Ghent festival, Europe’s biggest street festival which kicked off Friday.
They intercepted him near the canal at Lousberg Quay, held his feet and arms and threw him in the water before they took off.
Mutyaba was alone at the time of the attack.
His body was retrieved by Police following an emergency call from an eyewitness.
Titus Seruga, the in charge of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs at the Ugandan Embassy in Brussels when contacted told this website that efforts are underway to have Mutyaba’s body returned to Uganda for decent burial.
Mutyaba is the 5th Ugandan to be killed in Belgium.
STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF HAKIM MUTYABA A RESIDENT OF GHENT, BELGIUM
On Sunday 17th July 2022, the Mission received news of the unfortunate killing of Mutyaba Hakim, aged 53, a Belgian Citizen of Ugandan Origin known to us as a member of the Ugandan Community in Belgium.
The Mission held meetings with the family in Ghent and the Ugandan Community in Belgium, and we were briefed that Hakim attended a meeting with the Ugandan Community on 16th July 2022.
The family was informed about the death of Mr Mutyaba on Sunday, 17th July 2022, by Police in Ghent. Hakim left three children, who all have residence in Belgium.
The Mission is working with the family and the community to see that Hakim’s wishes of returning his body to his ancestral burial site in Uganda are fulfilled.
What we know about the police investigation; the Police obtained surveillance video from the crime scene.
According to statements in the press quoting the Police, two men pushed Hakim over the bridge while the third one was watching.
Police have since arrested one suspect and looking for the second suspect.
However, the arrested suspect is still in the Netherlands awaiting extradition to Belgium, where the suspect committed the crime for prosecution.
The Mission is closely following the matter and intends to request a full Police report from the authorities in Belgium after investigations are complete.
The Mission will continue to assist the family and the Ugandan community in any possible way.
