Katanga murder trial back in court

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The hearing of a case in which Molly Katanga is accused of killing her husband, businessman Henry Katanga, resumes on September 10, at the High Court in Kampala.

Molly is facing trial together with her daughters: Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Nkwanzi, as well as domestic worker George Amanyire and nursing officer Charles Otai who are accused of destroying evidence and being an accessory after the fact to murder.

The case is before Justice Isaac Muwata, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Samali Wakooli and chief state attorneys: Jonathan Muwaganya and Anna Kiiza are prosecuting the matter.

The defence team consists of Peter Kabatsi, MacDosman Kabega, Jet Tumwebaze, Bruce Musinguzi and Elison Karuhanga. Meanwhile, renowned lawyer Mwesigwa Rukutana is monitoring the proceedings on behalf of the deceased's family.

In the last session (August 29, 2024), Andrew Kizimula Mubiru, the director of forensics in the Uganda Police Force, testified on the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples that were extracted from the crime scene and presented his findings in court. Some of the DNA samples were exhibited in court for identification purposes. 

He said forensic experts recovered a bullet and a pistol magazine containing 10 live rounds of ammunition from the deceased’s bed and that he received the exhibits for purposes of conducting forensics.

Henry Katanga, a renowned businessman, succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained on his head on November 2, 2023 at their residence at Mbuya Chwa II Road in Kampala.

On the same day, Molly Katanga was admitted to C-Care IHK (formerly International Hospital Kampala) with multiple fractures on her upper limbs, various head injuries and in a state of hypovolemic shock, according to a report issued by specialists appointed by the health ministry.

Hypovolemic shock is an emergency condition in which severe blood or other fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body.

The indictment reveals that on November 1, 2023, Katanga and Molly had dinner together and then retired to their bedroom. However, the following morning, a house help (Amanyire) heard a strange noise emanating from the couple's bedroom and immediately alerted the other people at home.

It is said that 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.

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

Later, Molly was purportedly assisted by Amanyire to move downstairs and Kakwanza drove Molly to Bugolobi Medical Centre and later IHK.

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