Prison officer who shot bosses charged with murder, remanded

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The Uganda Prisons officer who had gone into hiding following the murder of his supervisors in Kiboga district has been remanded.

On February 23, Moses Anguyo allegedly shot dead Kiboga Prison deputy officer-in-charge Catherine Hope, third-in-command Bright Akishuri, and Sarah Ayebare, the spouse of the officer in charge. He also allegedly killed Salson Niwagaba.

After the incident, Anguyo went into hiding, but he was arrested over the weekend in Aru town in neighbouring DR Congo and repatriated to Uganda.

Subsequently, the suspect was on March 31, 2026, produced before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kiboga to answer charges of murder and aggravated robbery.

Grade One Magistrate Jonad Kusasira read the charges to the accused but did not allow him to plead because the offences are capital in nature and only triable by the High Court.

"This court has no powers to try your case," she said.

His appearance in court follows a coordinated cross-border operation that led to his arrest in Aru, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The accused had reportedly fled Uganda and was found hiding on a farm in Aru village owned by one Andama, where he was being concealed by one Hitler Pariyo.

The arrest was executed by police acting on intelligence provided by the Uganda Prisons Service, in what authorities described as effective inter-agency collaboration in the pursuit of justice.

Anguyo now faces multiple counts of murder arising from the events of February 23, 2026, at Kiboga Government Prison, where it is alleged that, with malice aforethought, he unlawfully caused the deaths of Hope, Akishuri, Ayebare, and Niwagaba.

These allegations, according to the prosecution, characterise a profound breach of duty by an officer entrusted with the protection of life and security.

In addition to the murder charges, the accused faces several counts of aggravated robbery. It is alleged that, during the incident, Anguyo robbed victims, including Grace Katusiime and Mary Nabayiga, of their property using a deadly weapon.

According to the prosecution, the use of a firearm accentuates the violent and aggravated nature of the offences.

Anguyo is further charged with threatening violence, having allegedly intimidated a victim with threats of death or injury.

Also implicated are Peter Anziku, also known as Okuonzi Dickson, and Hellen Amviko, who are facing charges of being accessories after the fact of murder.

It is alleged that the trio, being relatives of the accused, assisted him in evading arrest and escaping from lawful custody following the commission of the offences.

The prosecution is represented by Senior State Attorney Stephen Ariong and State Attorney Joan Gaswaga.

Under the Penal Code Act, the offence of murder attracts a maximum sentence of death upon conviction, while aggravated robbery carries a sentence of life imprisonment.