KAMPALA, UGANDA – Ugandan authorities have solved the gruesome murder of a Chinese businessman, Yang Wenli, whose body was found buried in Mabira Forest, bringing closure to a four-month investigation.
The complex case began on July 7, when Yang Wenli, a businessman operating at Haidah Plaza in Kampala, was killed by a fellow Chinese national, Yang Tiangang. According to sources privy to the investigation, Tiangang allegedly murdered Wenli over a business dispute, with the assistance of Dai Jie, Wenli’s employee.
The day after the murder, Tiangang reported to Kabalagala Police Station, claiming his life was in danger and seeking protection. Unbeknownst to officers, Tiangang had already killed Wenli, cut his body into pieces, and stuffed it into a sack. Tiangang then buried the body in Mabira Forest, approximately 1.5 kilometers from the location indicated by GPS coordinates.
Tiangang’s clever ruse involved convincing police officers that he needed assistance to shift his business from Ben Kiwanuka Street to Wandegeya. Officers from Kabalagala Police Station obliged, unaware of the gruesome crime that had occurred.
The investigation gained momentum when Wenli’s relatives raised concerns about his disappearance. The Chinese Embassy contacted Ugandan police, leading to Dai Jie’s interrogation. Initially, Jie claimed ignorance about Wenli’s whereabouts but eventually spilled the beans about the murder.
Dai Jie was charged with murder and remanded to Luzira Prison. However, the case faced a significant hurdle: the absence of Wenli’s body, crucial for prosecution.
To locate the body, Ugandan police spent two weeks searching sugarcane plantations in Kakira and Lugazi, based on Dai Jie’s statements. The search yielded nothing.
Enter Chinese Police
The Chinese Embassy sought assistance from Chinese authorities, who sent detectives to Kampala. These detectives, working with Ugandan police, used Google Maps and GPS coordinates from Tiangang’s phone to pinpoint the burial site.
A local resident, seeking a reward, provided crucial information leading police to the exact location. On digging up the site, police recovered Wenli’s remains, stuffed in a sack.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the body’s recovery. “The body has been taken to the City Mortuary in Mulago for postmortem,” Onyango said.
Jurisdictional Challenges
The case now faces jurisdictional challenges, with Tiangang in China and Dai Jie in Ugandan custody. Authorities are considering extradition options. One suggestion is to extradite Tiangang to Uganda to face murder charges. Another option is to extradite Dai Jie to China to face trial.
The successful collaboration between Ugandan and Chinese authorities demonstrates the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating transnational crime.
