The High Court has released the date on which it will hear the bail application of Molly Katanga who has been indicted with the murder of her husband Henry Katanga.

High Court judge Isaac Muwata fixed the 3^rd of April  after a closed-door meeting on Tuesday with both the prosecution team and the defence lawyers.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP) Samali Wakooli, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Mugawanya and Anna Kiiza appeared for the prosecution while senior counsel Peter Kabatsi, MacDusuman Kabega, Elison Karuhanga, Bruce Musinguzi and John Jet Tumwebaze for the accused.

However, the lawyers from both parties remained tight-lipped on what had transpired in the chambers.

A source told New Vision that the judge has since directed Mrs Katanga's lawyers to serve the prosecution with all the documents so that it also makes a reply before the matter comes up for hearing on April 3.

In her bail application, the 55-year-old Molly states that she is entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence and has substantial sureties to ensure her attendance in court whenever required if released on bail.

They are John Patrick Kaboyo, Geoffrey Kamuntu, Gen. Emmanuel Nyamunywanisa and Margaret Mugisa Muhanga.

“It is in the interest of justice that I am released on bail to enable me to get the medical care I require, spend time with my grieving family, earn a living, have adequate time to prepare my defence and exercise my right to liberty and a fair hearing,” Molly states in her affidavit.

Additionally, Molly says she is ready to comply with the bail terms as shall be set by the court.  

Molly’s bail application comes barely two weeks after her daughters Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanza who have been indicted with destroying evidence in the case have been released on bail.

George Amanyire, a domestic worker and Charles Otai, a nursing officer who was allegedly called to the deceased’s home after the incident are charged as accessories in the murder case and have also been released on bail pending trial.

Background

Katanga, a renowned businessman succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained on the left side of his head after an alleged verbal exchange with his wife (Molly) on November 2, 2023, at their residence at Mbuya Chwa II Road.

Prosecution alleges that on November 2, 2023, at Mbuya Chwa II Road in Nakawa division, Kampala city with malice aforethought, Molly killed her husband in cold blood.

According to the indictment, Katanga succumbed to gunshot injuries discharged by his pistol number UG1622200061CZ99 compact.

The DPP’s evidence

An examination of the killer pistol found that Molly’s Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was the most predominant on the trigger.

The pistol was also found to be in good working condition capable of discharging live rounds of ammunition and the cartridge that was found at the scene was discharged by the said pistol.

Also, swabs picked from Molly’s hands were found to be positive for gunpowder residue.

On examination of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, the indictment indicates that it had been tampered with but the indictment says the same will be relied upon during trial.

In her statement at Police, Molly admits that on the night prior to the incident, she spent a night together with Katanga at their home but she denies knowledge of what transpired and how she got to the International Hospital in Kampala (IHK) where she had been admitted for close to two months before she was arraigned in court. 

According to the indictment, a few days before his alleged murder, Katanga had allegedly revealed to a close relative that he feared he would be killed any time and that he needed a lawyer to draft a Will just in case he died.

The indictment shows that Katanga had wanted to draft his Will because he was allegedly being tracked by Molly.

It is alleged that with the help of a close relative, Katanga procured a safe to secure his important documents and also secured an appointment with a lawyer to discuss matters pertaining to his safety.

Court has since heard that Katanga had also made efforts to change his phone password, acquired a new private telephone line, and rarely made frequent movements in his known personal motor car.

The indictment shows that on November 1, 2023, Katanga and Molly had dinner together and retired to their bedroom but the following morning, Amanyire heard a strange noise coming from the couple’s bedroom and he immediately alerted the people at home.

 It is said the workers moved closer to the bedroom to ascertain what could be happening and that they allegedly heard a struggle inside the bedroom which they suspected could have been a fight.

Consequently, they telephoned Nkwanzi and Kakwanza to come but before they arrived, the workers allegedly heard a loud blast and immediately the noise in the bedroom stopped.

It is stated that Molly later opened the door and walked to the adjacent room from where she called Otai and she instructed him to call Nkwanzi and Kakwanza.

Shortly, Nkwanzi and Kakwanza reportedly showed up and Kakwanza went directly to the bedroom where she found Katanga in a pool of blood.

Later, Kakwanza, Nkwanzi, Molly and Otai moved downstairs and Kakwanza drove Molly to Bugolobi Medical Centre and later IHK.