Nebanda death: Kalungi appeal verdict not ready

Jun 27, 2014

Adam Suleiman Kalungi, the man sentenced to four years in prison over the death of Butaleja woman MP Cerinah Nebanda, will have to wait a little longer to know the fate of his appeal.

By Michael Odeng & Claire Muhindo

KAMPALA - Adam Suleiman Kalungi, the man sentenced to four years in prison over the death of Butaleja woman MP Cerinah Nebanda, will have to wait a little longer to know the fate of his appeal against the conviction and sentence after court said Friday its verdict was not ready.

Kalungi and his co-convict Ali Omar Alimuzahim appeared at the High Court on where the verdict was to be delivered in a Justice Lameck Mukasa-led ruling, but had to be taken back to the prison cells.

Court's decision on his appeal has been pushed to July 4, which is next Friday.

Kalungi, through his lawyers – M/S Ochieng, Harimwomugasho and Co-Advocates – filed a memorandum of appeal on May 14 – challenging the magistrate’s court judgment.

Said to be fallen MP Nebanda’s boyfriend at the time of her death, Kalungi has sought a court order to have his conviction and sentence of manslaughter quashed, saying prosecution erred in law and facts when it failed to evaluate the evidence and properly construe the law in respect to manslaughter.

“Failure to do this made the magistrate arrive at the wrong conclusion in finding the appellant guilty of manslaughter by omission which caused a miscarriage of justice,” he said. 

He also wants court to sentence him to a caution if it fails to acquit him, saying his punishment was harsh. 

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MP Cerinah Nebanda was very active in Parliament. Her death in December 2012 sparked off a lot of controversy. PHOTO/Rogers Okwany

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In October last year, Deogratius Muheebwe displayed before court some of the evidence the police had recovered from Adam Kalungi’s home. PHOTO/Tony Rujuta

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Government Forensic Specialist Andrew Mubiru displayed exhibits at Makindye Court in March 2013. PHOTO/Wilfred Sanya
 

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On Friday, Kalungi will know the fate of his appeal at the Anti-corruption Court in Kampala on July 4. PHOTO/Abu Mwesigwa

Kalungi was sentenced to four years in Luzira prison early this year for negligently causing the death of Nebanda.

His co-accused Omar was sentenced to one year in jail over possession of drugs by Makindye court chief magistrate Esta Nambayo.

Prosecution insists that the convict in December 2012 unlawfully caused the death of the legislator in Buziga, Makindye Division in Kampala.

He was charged alongside Noor Abubakar, Khan Babu, Abdul Abid Rashid Butt and Fatuma Babu who were later acquitted.

A medical officer Emmanuel Kizza Lwakataka – a former employee with People’s Hope Clinical Centre in Kansanga – confessed in court that he hesitantly administered restricted drugs to Nebanda at the time of her controversial death.

During the defense hearing, Kalungi told court he was forced by the police to confess that he administered drugs to her, leading to the MP' death.

 Kalungi on January 8, 2013 first pleaded guilty to the charges of manslaughter and later on denied after being advised by his lawyers.


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