Fresh details have emerged about Hillary Byaruhanga, the security guard accused of murdering Kampala businessman Anthony Mutinisa, painting him as a far more dangerous figure than an ordinary watchman.
Byaruhanga, together with his accomplice Mark Akampa, is currently detained at Kira Road Police Station in Kampala following his arrest on Monday in Kihihi, Kanungu District, near the DR Congo border.
Investigators now believe Byaruhanga, who hails from Rukungiri District, received military training in the Democratic Republic of Congo where he once lived, before returning to Uganda.
Security sources describe his precision in fatally shooting Mutinisa with a single bullet as the hallmark of a highly trained assassin.
Information obtained shows that Byaruhanga had earlier been jailed at Luzira Prison, though details of the case remain sketchy. He also carries scars on his head, which he told colleagues were from “training.”
Colleagues at Mutinisa Motors recall him boasting of having driven vehicles as far as South Africa, but he never explained under what circumstances.
In Bulenga, where he rented a small house, he lived alone despite having a woman and child in the area.
Police noted that his residence contained no personal documents or possessions that could identify him, a deliberate move, they suspect, to avoid leaving traces in case of crime.
A week before Mutinisa’s murder, Byaruhanga had requested leave from work.
Months earlier, one of Mutinisa’s new Toyota Land Cruiser V8 SUVs was stolen and smuggled into Congo.
Investigators now suspect Byaruhanga may have played a role in that theft, especially given he was caught attempting to cross into the DRC after assassinating his boss.
Investigations into his recruitment at Don World Security Limited have also raised red flags.
It has emerged that he never presented the required Local Council (LC) documents, raising questions about how he bypassed standard vetting procedures to secure the job.
After shooting Mutinisa on Sunday evening at his Ntinda office, Byaruhanga removed CCTV footage, stole cash and the businessman’s SUV, and sent chilling text messages to staff and his security supervisor saying: “Something bad has happened.” The vehicle was later recovered in Kambuga, Kanungu District.
Police sources say Byaruhanga’s background, links to Congo, and criminal history suggest he may not have acted alone but could be part of a wider criminal network.
The shocking revelations have intensified debate over Uganda’s private security industry, with critics faulting lax recruitment and weak oversight that allow dangerous individuals to infiltrate companies tasked with protecting lives and property.
Byaruhanga and Akampa remain in custody at Kira Road Police as investigations continue.