The former Prime Minister of Toro Kingdom John Sanyu Katuramu is a free man after being released from jail on Saturday.

Dressed in khakhi shirt and baseball cap, Katuramu who looked in good health was driven out of Prison gates by his son, Job Katuramu Mutungi in a Jeep.

Katuramu was in September 2001 convicted by Justice John Bosco Katutsi for murder of prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma. 

Court found that on March 25, 1999, Katuramu financed the murder of the prince and his guard, Stephen Kaganda at Palace View Bar in Fort Portal City.

The New Vision spoke to Prince David Kijanangoma, the young brother to Happy Kijanangoma who was murdered by Katuramu.

“The man reconciled with us and asked for forgiveness and was forgiven. He has served his sentence and is now a free man. As a family we have no bad feeling about his life,” Kijangoma said.

“He has finished his punishment, and cannot be condemned forever. If God has forgiven him, who are we not to forgive. We are healing and ready to see him continue being useful to the people of Toro,” he added.

Katuramu was convicted with Patrick Kwezi, who was convicted for transmitting the cash to the killers and Alex Twinomugisha, a former Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) kadogo who pulled the trigger, are currently serving death sentences at Luzira Prison.

Uunsuccessfully, Katuramu appealed against the conviction in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Since then, there have been several attempts to have Katuramu released.

According to Mutungi a former contestant for Nakawa East Member of Parliament seat in the concluded election, his father is in good health.

“It is just a moment of thanksgiving, and he will take time off and engage in prayer. 21 years in jail is not an easy thing as you would understand. Maybe at opportune time he will get a chance to speak a bit more about himself,” he added.

As family, Job said they are grateful to God and President Museveni.

“We are thankful to God, first. The president as well. Not many people get a chance to serve and walk out. We are also happy for those who have been able to send us good messages and join us in prayer,” Mutungi said,

Before his release, the family had on several occasions requested the President to release him and some people in Toro had made it a demand to President Museveni.

But President Yoweri Museveni set a condition that he would only pardon him after the two families have reconciled.

"Katuramu's matters cannot be solved at a rally. I advised the wife of Katuramu to meet the deceased's family and reconcile. I have powers to pardon Katuramu, but I do not want to release him when the two parties are not agreeing," the President said at a 2016 campaign rally in Fort Portal town.

The families of Katuramu and Kijanangoma are said to have held reconciliatory meeting that have yielded results.

According to sources, in Toro groups many people are happy about the release but still they are asking for an apology 

In 1993, the Omukama of Toro, Patrick Olimi Kaboyo appointed John Sanyu Katuramu prime minister of the kingdom.

Katuramu was introduced to the king by Princess Elizabeth Bagaya as a businessman who loved Toro, but rarely came into the limelight.

Prior to his appointment, he owned Oxford Airways, Voice of Toro, Rwenkuba Ranchers and several real estate properties.

Katuramu supported the NRA bush War struggle in Kabarole area. When the king died in 1995, some members of the royal family and kingdom officials retained Katuramu as the prime minister and he was also named one of the regents of the new three-year-old king, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.