Court acquits Kananura over Panamera murder

Desh Kananura (R) and his co-accused react after they were acquitted. Photo by Shamim Saad

High Court in Kampala has acquitted city businessman Andrew Kananura alias Desh and four others of murder charges.

On Friday, High Court Judge Joseph Murangira ruled that there was no sufficient evidence pinning the accused of the crime.

Murangira said that there was no prosecution witness who saw the accused murdering Badru Kateregga and their evidence was riddled with contradictions.

“I have not much to say but I praise God for being on my side. However I am still concerned that Kateregga’s murders have not brought to book and face the law,” Kananura said shortly after the ruling.

Kateregga was a waiter at Panamera Bar in the city suburb of Naguru.

He agreed with the assessors that Kananura alongside his brother Raymond Kananura, Cyrus Maganda, and Samuel Muzolewo never participated in the murder of Kateregga, saying prosecution failed to adduce evidence  showing how each of the accused participated in the murder of the deceased.

He however, disagreed with the assessors who advised court to convict Jacob Onyanyo, ruling that he did not participate in the said murder.

Prosecution led by Jane Kajuga Okuo argued that the accused on September 30, 2012, allegedly tortured Kateregga to death after they found him with sh30,000 in tips; exceeded the allowed amount to be held by any worker at Panamera.