The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court issued a warrant of arrest for Molly Katanga, widow of the late businessman Henry Katanga, in connection with the murder of her husband. Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza issued the warrant on Monday following a request from the Prosecution, led by Jonathan Muwaganya.
The Prosecution argued that Molly’s alleged sickness couldn’t be substantiated in court, and they sought the warrant based on completed investigations and urged the court to commit the case to the High Court for trial. Despite a letter from Molly’s next of kin regarding her medical condition, the Magistrate proceeded to issue the arrest warrant.
The order instructs the police to apprehend Molly, who is reportedly bedridden, and bring her to court by February 12th, 2024. Molly’s lawyers mentioned her recent surgeries and hospital admission as a basis for her medical condition. Molly, along with her daughters Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Nkwanzi, faces charges of murder and destroying evidence, respectively.
Additionally, Amanyire George (a shamba boy) and Charles Otai (a health worker) are accused of being accessories to murder. According to the Prosecution, Henry Katanga was allegedly shot dead by Molly on November 2nd, 2023. The daughters, Nkwanzi and Kakwanzi, are accused of tampering with evidence, making it unidentifiable for judicial proceedings. Amanyire and Otai allegedly assisted others involved in the crime.
Evidence presented to the court indicates that Molly and the deceased had four children, including the daughters involved in the trial. The deceased expressed concerns about his safety before his death, fearing he was being tracked by his wife. He had taken precautions such as changing phone passwords and acquiring a new private telephone line.
The Prosecution asserts that Molly and the deceased had dinner together on November 1st, 2023, but the next day, only Molly was found in their bedroom. A loud blast was heard, leading to the discovery of blood in the bedroom. Molly was seen standing in the doorway. Subsequently, Nkwanzi and Kakwanzi arrived, and the latter drove Molly to Bugolobi Medical Center.
“A5 not believing, A3’s response called on the telephone number of the deceased to find out whether he was okay but instead Nkwanzi confronted him with the deceased’s phone in her hand and questioned A5 ‘s actions of calling the deceased’s phone as opposed to cleaning the blood as instructed,” reads a narration in the committal papers.
The documents further allege that all accused persons, except Amanyire, returned home, closed themselves in the master bedroom, and later allowed him inside. They instructed him to lift the deceased’s body onto a small mattress before Otai called the police to report a suicide case. The DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) plans to rely on postmortem reports, forensic analyses, phone printouts, and scene-of-crime reports as evidence in court.
The prosecution argues that Molly’s DNA was found on the trigger, and the cartridges matched the pistol recovered at the scene. The DPP contends that there is no valid defense for the accused persons, and they should be convicted as charged.
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