Lone assessor backs conviction in Dokolo businesswoman murder trial

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The murder trial over the brutal killing of Dokolo businesswoman Mildred Amek has moved closer to conclusion after the sole remaining court assessor advised the High Court to convict the two accused men, saying the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Solomon Akwech, the only assessor left on the panel, recommended that Ebong Wasebo and Simon Peter Galimaka be found guilty of murder and convicted as charged.

The development marks another key milestone in a case that has gripped residents across Lango and North Kyoga for nearly five years.

Akwech remained the sole assessor after two of his colleagues withdrew from the proceedings. Edward Ojungu excused himself after informing court that one of the accused persons belonged to his clan, raising concerns over a possible conflict of interest. 

Another assessor, Lucy Onang, disqualified herself after missing part of the trial proceedings, which left her unable to participate in the final evaluation of evidence.

Under Uganda’s criminal justice system, assessors provide non-binding opinions to guide the judge, who retains the final authority to deliver judgment.

In his opinion before Lady Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala, Akwech stated that the prosecution's evidence sufficiently linked the two accused persons to the murder of Amek and warranted conviction.

The recommendation follows weeks of testimony from family members, police investigators and former co-accused persons who admitted involvement in events surrounding the killing.

The case arises from the brutal murder of Amek on the night of July 21, 2021, at Acungapenyi cell in Agwata town council, Dokolo district.

Amek, a respected businesswoman and daughter of senior presidential adviser Levi Okodi Macpio, disappeared after what initially appeared to be a normal evening at her home.

Court heard that Wasebo, who was living with the deceased as her husband, allegedly arrived at the home carrying a black hen. The bird was slaughtered, cooked and shared among family members before everyone retired for the night.

By the following morning, Amek had vanished.

What began as concern among relatives quickly turned into a murder investigation. Family members searching for her reportedly found the house locked from the outside. When police forced entry, they allegedly discovered blood stains inside the house.

Investigators later followed footprints to the rear of the residence, where they made a chilling discovery: Amek’s body was found buried in a shallow grave covered with ash just a few metres from her home.

The prosecution relied heavily on testimony from family members and two former co-accused persons who later pleaded guilty.

One of them, Dolly Acen, testified that she was approached during the night and asked for ash, which prosecutors linked to the concealment of the body.

Another witness, Aron Owiny, who later entered a plea bargain agreement, told court he was forced to take part in digging the grave where the deceased was buried.

The court also heard evidence from police investigators who recovered exhibits, documented the crime scene and analysed footprints allegedly linked to the accused persons.

A post-mortem examination presented in court showed that Amek sustained multiple injuries caused by both blunt and sharp objects, indicating a violent attack.

Throughout the trial, Wasebo and Galimaka denied involvement, insisting they were not at the scene when the crime occurred.

Their defence, however, was challenged by prosecution evidence, which placed them at the centre of events leading to the death and burial of the deceased.

The trial has already seen several dramatic turns.

Five suspects were initially charged in connection with the murder. Dolly Acen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Aron Owiny later entered a plea bargain and received a 10-year sentence.

Another accused person, Andrew Opio Ogule, was acquitted after the court ruled that there was no case requiring him to mount a defence.

With the assessor stage now complete, attention shifts to presiding judge Kalibbala, who is expected to deliver judgment after considering the evidence on record, the submissions of both parties and the assessor’s opinion.

For Amek’s family, the recommendation represents another step towards closure in a case that has haunted Dokolo district since the night the businesswoman disappeared and was later found buried in a shallow grave behind her own home.