Judge queries Kakama murder witnesses

Sep 28, 2012

JUSTICE Faith Mwondha wondered why Aisha Kobusingye and Jacqueline Najjingo decided to testify

By Andante Okanya

THE trial judge in the June 2010 kidnap and murder of 18 month-old baby boy Kham Kakama case on Wednesday queried the essence of the two defence witnesses brought by one of the accused Brian Sajjabi, 24.

Presiding over the trial at Nakawa Court in Kampala, Justice Faith Mwondha wondered why Aisha Kobusingye and Jacqueline Najjingo decided to testify, yet they could not fully account for Sajjabi's movements. The other co-accused is the maid Mellon Nabaasa, 23.

The deceased was on June 8, 2010, kidnapped from Bugolobi flats, and his decomposing body was days later found in a Kampala swamp. The family has since shifted from Bugolobi.

Mwondha was particularly furious with Kobusingye, 25, who stated that in June 2010, Sajjabi was staying with a one Maama Cissy (Najjingo), yet Sajjabi in his testimony said he was staying alone at the time.

The judge became furious when Kobusingye stammered out her answers, when asked to confirm whether it was her or Sajjabi who was telling lies. Mwondha threatened to arrest her and charge her with perjury (lying in court), saying she was being untruthful.

All her evidence shows that by the time accused allegedly got involved, he was not staying with her.You are wasting our time.He moved from your home in February 2010, and the offence was committed in June. You are telling lies and I can charge you with perjury, stated Mwondha who expressed her disgust.

On May 7 this year, Gordon Tumusiime, 26, formerly charged with the same offence was handed a 60-year jail sentence after pleading guilty. The 30 years are for the count of murder, while the other 30 are for kidnap but to be served concurrently.

Prosecution is led by principal state attorney Alice Komuhangi, while the defence lawyers are Racheal Mulindwa(Sajjabi) and Francis Gumusiriza(Nabaasa).

Prior, Kobusingye under the guidance of Sajjabi's lawyer Rachael Mulindwa, reiterated Sajjabi's claims that key suspect who later pleaded guilty Gordon Tumusiime, fleeced Sajjabi of sh200,000 meant for a business.

For Najjingo, 33, the judge credited her as a decent person basing on her testimony but wondered why she was compelled to go and testify, yet only used to only meet Sajjabi at dinner time during weekdays. Najjingo who said Sajjabi was a son to her inlaw, stated that he lived in her neighbourhood in the city suburb of Kamwokya. She said she was in court to honour summons.

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