Moneylender killed over sh18m

Hamida Mutesi Nalule wasn’t new to lending money. She had helped a number of people in her community - some paid her back, others didn’t. But she believed in giving people a chance. However, on June 4, that belief led her into a trap. 

Transcript

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This is New Vision CSI Crime Stories. Today we tell the story of a woman whose willingness to help others became the very reason she lost her life. Hamida Mutesi Nalule was known by many as a hardworking businesswoman and moneylender in Mukono district. Friends remember her as generous, approachable, and always willing to give someone a second chance. But on the afternoon of June 4, 2025, that trust led her into what police believe was a carefully planned trap. This is the story of a debt worth 18 million shillings and a life that was cut short. Over the years she had lent money to several people. Like many lenders, she knew not everyone would repay on time. Still, she believed most people deserved an opportunity. One of those borrowers was 26-year-old Elvis Katabazi from Namuyenge in Mukono district. Police say Katabazi owed Nalule 18 million shillings. The loan had reportedly been secured using his house as collateral. Months passed. The money was never repaid. Nalule had reached a point where she wanted to recover what she had lent. The next step was expected to involve the local council one chairperson who would witness the transfer of the pledged property if repayment failed. According to investigators, Katabazi agreed to meet her. It appeared the dispute was finally coming to an end, but investigators say it was only the beginning of something much better. On June 4th, Nalule left to meet Katabazi. She was driving her white Toyota Fielda. Police say Katabazi joined her and together they drove towards Namuyenge. The plan, according to what Nalule believed, was to meet the LC1 chairperson and complete the paperwork relating to the debt. But when they allegedly failed to find the chairman, the pair began driving back. Somewhere along a quiet road, away from busy trading centers, police believe Katabazi made his move. Investigators say he attacked Nalule inside her own vehicle. She suffered fatal stab wounds to the neck. The attack was swift. By the time help arrived, Nalule had died. Her body was found beside the vehicle. The woman who had left home hoping to recover her dead never returned alive. Police say after the attack, Katabase attempted to flee the scene, but he did not get far. Residents who became suspicious reportedly chased him. Within a short time he was captured and handed over to police. Detectives from Mukono immediately launched a murder investigation. Crime scene officers documented the area. Exhibits were recovered, witnesses were interviewed, the suspect was taken into custody. For Nalule's family and friends, the arrest could not erase the pain. Those who knew her described her as cheerful, hardworking, art, compassionate. Many struggled to understand how a woman remembered for helping people could meet such a violent end. Nearly three weeks after the killing, Elvis Katabase appeared before Mukono Chief Magistrate's court. The murder charge was read to him. Because murder is a capital offense under Ugandan law, the court did not ask him to enter a plea. He was remanded to Kawuga Government Prison as investigations continued. The case was scheduled for mention while prosecutors prepared the file for consideration by the High Court, which has jurisdiction to hear murder cases. No trial judgment has yet been reported. The death of Hamida Nalule serves as another reminder of the risks that can accompany private money lending. Financial disputes sometimes escalate beyond civil disagreements into violent crime. Investigators often advise people handling large cash transactions, debt recovery or property transfers to avoid meeting alone in isolated places. Whenever possible, such meetings should take place in public locations or at police stations or local council offices where there are independent witnesses. No amount of money is worth risking a life. For Nalule's family, June 4th will always be remembered as the day they lost a mother, a friend, and a provider. For investigators, it became another homicide file. And for the community, it remains a painful reminder that trust, when placed in the wrong hands, can have devastating consequences. Thank you for listening to New Vision CSI Crime Stories. If you have comments or a case you would like us to examine, share it with us.