The accused persons implicated in the murder of businessman Henry Katanga have denied charges against them . Key suspect and deceased’s widow Molly Katanga, has denied the charges against her, saying she understood well the offenses read against her but it is not true that she committed the offense.
This was before the High Court Criminal Division presided over by Justice Isaac Muwata when the matter came up for hearing.
The Court has heard that on November 2, 2023, at Mbuya, Chwa II, in Nakawa Division, with malice aforethought, Molly Katanga killed her husband, Henry Katanga.
Molly’s two daughters Patricia Kankwanzi and Martha Nkwanzi with whom she is jointly charged have denied charges of destroying and tampering with valuable evidence that would have been used in the judicial trial to prove the murder of their father.
On the other hand, the family’s shamba boy George Amanyire and a nursing officer Charles Otai, have been charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder which they have also denied.
Prior to this, the court stood over proceedings to look for a Rutoro Language Interpreter after one of the accused persons. Amanyire said he prefers the trial to be conducted in Rutoro, a language he understands best.
Later, a VIP female Body guard Advance Ayesigwa attached to the Counter Terrorism of Police was brought as the interpreter for proceedings to continue.
The Prosecution was led by Samalie Wakoli Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief States Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya and Annah Kiiza.
Several lawyers who included the Former Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, Brian Rubaihayo and Edgar Ayebazibwe were on watching brief.
The court again took a second break after the Prosecutor Wakooli asked to amend the charge sheet so that it can be aligned properly with the sections governing the Trial and Indictments Act. Wakooli asked for some few minutes to allow her include in the charge sheet the exact evidence that was tampered with by Molly’s co accused and also to add them (co accused) on new counts.
However, when Court resumed after the second break, the Prosecution informed the Court that they wanted Molly’s co accused to each appear on two charges of destroying evidence and also of being an accessory after the fact of murder. The accused each has one count at the moment.
In response, the accused person’s lawyers including Macdusman Kabega, Bruce Musinguzi Ellison Karuhanga and Peter Kabatsi who led them objected the to the amendment.
Kabatsi said , they had no objection to the supply of the items that were destroyed as well as the clarification sought to be made in the third count of being an accessory after the fact of murder . However , they objected to charging their clients on a new offense which they were not committed to face in the court.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned to tomorrow July 3rd 2024 for ruling. Molly who was wheeled before Court in a wheel chair asked Court to allow her attend proceedings via zoom since she gets pain to climb stairs at court.
