IT personnel: Katanga’s phone was hacked before his death

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A witness on Friday told the High Court in Kampala that Henry Katanga had expressed frustrations about someone hacking into his communication gadgets before he was murdered.

The Court Presided over the Criminal Division Judge Isaac Muwata heard testimony from the fifth prosecution witness, Pierre Kajura.  Pierre Kajura, a technician with an IT business located at the Uganda Cooperatives Alliance building, testified that he had known Henry Katanga since 2017.

Kajura told the Court that he would often assist Henry Katanga with technical issues, including fixing his printer and laptop. Kajura also revealed that Katanga was a good client of their banking agency.

The court heard that Katanga confided in Kajura about his frustration about an unknown person who was hacking into his phone hacking and password security for his phone.

Kajura said he advised Katanga to use strong passwords, and they even practiced changing his email and phone passwords together. This showed that Katanga was aware of the risks and was taking steps to protect himself.

Kajura stated that however, on November 1st, 2023, Katanga expressed frustration with passwords, saying he couldn’t handle them anymore and wanted to live without them.

It was Kajura’s testimony that he asked Katanga if he had children at home, to which Katanga replied, “We are all grown-ups at home.” Kajura said he then removed the password from Katanga’s phone.   Tragically, Katanga was killed the next day, on November 2nd, 2023.

Kajura described Katanga as a jolly, carefree, and good man, with whom he had developed a deeper bond, even calling him “Uncle.”

“Katanga was a jolly man. It reached a point when I started calling him Uncle. He was a carefree man. We had created a deeper bond. He was a good man,”  said Kajura.

Kajura however told Justice Muwata that he did not know any of the accused persons standing trial before the Court.

All the accused persons stood in the dock except Molly Katanga who appeared via a Zoom link connecting to Luzira Women prison. Molly Katanga is accused of murdering Henry Katanga by shooting.

The other co-accused are the late Katanga’s daughters of Katanga Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kankwanzi. shamba boy, George Amanyire, and Charles Otai a Nursing Officer.

They face charges related to tampering and destroying evidence that could have been used to find Henry Katanga’s killers. They are also accused of aiding and abetting the crime (being an accessory after the fact of murder).

The defense lawyers comprised of Elison Karuhanga Macdusman Kabega Bruce Musinguzi John Jet Tumwebaze and Peter Kabatsi did not cross-examine Kajura.

Former deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, and lawyers Edgar Ayebazibwe, and Brian Rubaihayo represent the interests of the deceased as watching briefs during the trial.

Chief State Attorneys Jonathan Muwaganya and Annah Kiiza represented the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Muwaganya asked the Court to grant the Prosecution more time to bring more witnesses.  The trial will resume on Monday, July 15th 2024 with further hearing of the Prosecution’s case.

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