Maj. Kazini’s suspected killer released

Lydia Draru has been released from prison after confessing to the murder of former Army Commander Maj.Gen. James Kazini. After serving 14 years in prison, Draru is now free. Draru was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years in jail for the murder of Gen. Kazini by the High Court. During Draru’s sentencing, Justice Monica Mugenyi acquitted her of the murder charge, instead finding her guilty of manslaughter. Manslaughter carries a potential punishment of life in prison.

Draru and her lawyers Annet Mutabingwa and Musa Sembajja had claimed throughout the trial that she did not plan to kill Kazini and that she acted in self-defense. According to police investigations, Draru repeatedly beat Kazini with an iron bar.

THE DEATH OF KAZINI

Maj. Gen. James Kazini was discovered dead in Draru’s rental home in Wabigalo Namuwongo, a Kampala neighborhood in Makindye Division, in 2009. On November 10, 2009, Draru whacked Kazini in the head with an iron bar and killed him, according to the prosecution.

Draru was Kazini’s side dish, and their meeting was believed to take place in her house. Phoebe Kazini was Kazini’s wife (widow). Draru came out and confessed to the murders, but the audience was suspicious that she was a decoy rather than the real perpetrator. Despite announcing that they were investigating the murder, the police did not present any evidence from their own investigations throughout the trial to back up Draru’s confession. Draru was sentenced to 14 years in jail based solely on her own guilty plea.

Draru confessed to repeatedly hitting Kazini in the head with a metal pipe, killing him instantaneously. She said she struck him in self-defense because he was attempting to harm her. She was charged with manslaughter and was eventually found guilty. Draru raced out shouting after killing Kazini in her sitting room. Residents in the neighborhood were drawn to her house by her screams, when they discovered Kazini’s body lying in a pool of blood. Draru and her sister, who was a minor at the time, were arrested and interrogated by police.

Kazin’s body was photographed with a narrow and deep penetrating gash on his head, indicating that it had been caused by a sharp item rather than the hollow pipe Draru stated.

This raised questions about whether Draru’s confession was real or a ruse. At the time of his death, Kazini was dressed in civilian clothing. His white Toyota Land Cruiser, which had South Sudanese license plates, was discovered parked outside Draru’s house, along with his weapon. In the Kasese district, he was laid to rest at his ancestral home.