Molly Katanga denied bail again
May 21, 2024
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.
Katanga (Pictured) is accused of killing her husband, while her two daughters: Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Nkwanzi are accused of destroying evidence. Molly’s daughters face the charge together with George Amanyire and Charles Otai. (New Vision/Files)
By Michael Odeng and Farooq Kasule
Journalists @New Vision
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KAMPALA - Court has for the second time declined to grant bail to Molly Katanga, who is accused of murdering her husband Henry Katanga.
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.
Justifying his decision, Justice Isaac Muwata of the Criminal Division of the High Court ruled today, May 21, 2024, "In the earlier bail application, Molly presented several medical reports stating that her condition warrants her release on bail. After careful consideration of the medical reports, the court concluded that the applicant has failed to prove that her condition cannot be handled by the prison authorities.”
Through her lawyers, Molly had applied for the second bail hearing, presenting medical reports from Luzira Prison where doctors examined her and maintained that they can not handle her health condition at the prison facility.
However, Justice Muwata in the Tuesday ruling declined the bail application.
No change in application
Muwata observed that the medical conditions indicated in a medical report dated April 15, 2024, are the same as those presented in the earlier medical reports and that the matter was handled in the previous bail application.
The judge delivered the ruling in the presence of assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Samali Wakooli, and chief state attorneys: Anna Kiiza and Jonathan Muwaganya.
The defence team was represented by Jet Tumwebaze, Bruce Musinguzi, and Elison Karuhanga.
Present in court were also Molly's sureties: John Patrick Kabayo, Geoffrey Kamuntu, Maj. Gen Emmauel Burundi Nyamunywanisa and Margaret Mugisa.
Lawyer's argument
Her lawyer, Peter Kabatsi, told court that Luzira communicated in their report that Molly's treatment cannot be handled by Luzira Prison medical officers.
He said the medical officers after a physical examination discovered that Molly had multiple cystic masses in her left breast upper outer quadrant and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertension, vertigo, resolving tissue injury, and breast fibrocystic disease.
In a bid to treat the ailment, the lawyer said the doctors from Mulago Hospital recommended that Molly receives trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, continues with anti-hypertensive and BP monitoring, follow up with the ENT surgeon for the paranasal sinusitis, vertigo, and monitoring of her breast symptoms.
Molly is jointly charged with her daughters, Ms. Patricia Kakwenza and Martha Nkwanzi, as well as the medical doctor who first responded to the murder scene, Charles Otai, and a domestic worker at the Katanga residence, George Amanyire, who also face murder charges.
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