Kanyamunyu, co-accused apply for bail again

PIC:Suspects in the dock. FILE PHOTO/Meddie Musisi

Businessman Mathew Kanyamunyu and his co-accused in the alleged murder of Kenneth Watmon Akena have re-applied for bail before High Court in Kampala.


Kanyamunyu, 39, is jointly charged with his brother Joseph Kanyamunyu, 40, and girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari, 26, for allegedly murdering Akena, the community development officer, employed by a local non-governmental organisation known as ACODER based in Kasese district.


The accused were first denied bail on January 10, 2017 by the same court presided over by High court Judge Elizabeth Kibula Kabanda for failure to prove to court exceptional circumstances like advanced age.


The trio was committed to High court to stand trial by Nakawa Grade One Magistrate Noah Ssajjabi on January 31, 2017 after state prosecutor Doreen Elima informed court that investigations were complete.


However, court records indicate that the accused applied for bail on January 23, 2017 under file number 43/2017.


Committal is a process where a lower court hands over the accused to the High Court to face trial for capital offences such as murder, which cannot be tried by the lower courts.


According to reliable sources, the trio is slated to appear at High court next week for the hearing of their bail application.  The source further adds that the file is in the chamber of High court Judge Kabanda.


According to prosecution, the accused and others still at large on November 12, 2016 along Kampala-Jinja road opposite Malik car bond with malice aforethought caused the death of Akena.


Meanwhile, Joseph, a businessman of Cresent Natra faces another count of Accessory after the fact of murder. It is said that Joseph at Nakasero hospital received from Kanyamunyu a pistol which was used for shooting Akena so that it is not recovered for analysis and purposes of investigations.

 
Kanyamunyu, the executive director of Quantum Express Logistics is suspected to have shot Akena, 33, in the stomach over the denting of his car. Akena died a day after at Norvik Hospital, on Bombo Road in Kampala.


In his statement to the Police, Kanyamunyu denied the allegations, saying although he had an exchange with the deceased over ramming into his car, he did not harm him (Akena). Kanyamunyu claims that his only crime was taking Akena to hospital after he was shot.


However, John Paul Nyeko, a relative of the deceased, earlier said his cousin made a dying declaration in which he pinned Kanyamunyu for shooting him in the Forest Mall parking yard.


However, Police spokesperson Felix Kaweesi said Akena's assertion of a dying declaration was faulty since they (Police) found out that the scene of crime was in front of the UMA main gate.

 
Police investigations indicate that a search was conducted at the house rented by Kanyamunyu and Cynthia and recovered Kanyamunyu's shirt which was stained with blood.