Lira Court Dismisses Gun-for-Hire Murder Plot Case Against Businessman

16 September 2026, 7:21 pm

By Finellah Akullu Opio

The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lira has dismissed a high-profile case in which a prominent local businessman, Morish Omach, was accused of hiring a hitman to assassinate a fellow trader.

In a ruling delivered on September 3, 2026, Lira Chief Magistrate Joe Fay Adoko struck out Case No. 0942 of 2025, clearing Morish Omach, an electronics merchant at Lira City Bus Park, and his alleged co-conspirator, Emmanuel Ebosu (also known as Opio).

The pair had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder against rival trader Bonnie Okwir.

The prosecution had alleged that on August 9, 2025, Omach paid Ebosu 10 million Ugandan shillings to execute Okwir using an illegal firearm in Tekullu Cell, Lira City West Division.

During court proceedings, Okwir testified that Ebosu approached him near Boslong Video Hall, adjacent to Lira Town College, confessing that Omach had paid him to kill him.

Okwir claimed Ebosu offered to spare his life if Okwir reimbursed him the 10 million shillings he had already spent, promoting Okwir to pay Ebosu an undisclosed sum before reporting the plot to Lira City West Police Station, leading to the arrest of both men.

Police subsequently recovered an unloaded AK-47 rifle, military fatigues, boots, and gumboots from Ebosu’s residence.

However, Chief Magistrate Adoko ruled that the prosecution failed to present sufficient corroborating evidence to substantiate Okwir’s claims, stating that Okwir provided contradicting testimonies and failed to produce additional witnesses.

The Magistrate observed that the allegation appeared to stem from business rivalry rather than a genuine assassination attempt, hence dismissing all charges for lack of evidence.

Speaking after the ruling, Morish Omach expressed relief at his acquittal after a year-long legal battle.

He called on traders at Lira Bus Park to reject jealousy, personal vendettas, and malicious accusations, warning that commercial hostility undermines economic progress in the Lango sub-region.