City socialite​ Kamyuka granted bail

COURT

KAMPALA-Court of Appeal has released on bail city socialite Ivan Kamyuka, who is serving three years and eight months in Prison for unintentionally killing his colleague John Ahimbisibwe.

On August 2, 2015, Kamyuka stabbed Ahimbisibwe with a broken glass, accusing him of beating his wife, Nima Nyarwaka at Guvnor Club in Kampala.  

Ahimbisibwe was moments later rushed to Case Medical Center in Kampala, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

On Friday, Justice Cheborion Barishaki granted Kamyuka a cash bail of sh10m on grounds that his sureties were substantial. The sureties who include Martin Kawomera and retired civil servant Christine Mayanja were bonded at sh10m not cash.

"The sureties are substantial since they are all relatives of the accused and have presented valid documents of their places of residence both in Entebbe and Kisasi respectively," the judge noted.

Barishaki also agreed with Kamyuka that there was a likelihood of delay of determination of his appeal challenging the conviction since the court has many cases to handle.

He directed Kamyuka to report to the Court of Appeal Registry on February 22, 2019 upon which he will be given a date to return to court.

Kamyuka who looked to have gained body weight in Luzira prison broke down in tears after being granted bail.

In June 2018, Justice Wilson Kwesiga, the head of Criminal Division of the High Court  acquitted Kamyuka of murder and instead found him guilty of manslaughter for un-intentionally murdering Ahimbisibwe.

Kwesiga convicted Kamyuka of manslaughter, stating that he acted in self defence as he tried to save his girlfriend Nyarwaka who had reportedly been attacked by the Ahimbisibwe.

He accordingly handed Kamyuka a five-year sentence and deducted the time he (Kamyuka) had spent on remand, and thus bringing the jail-tem to three years and eight months.

But, a few days after the judgement, Kamyuka through his lawyer Julius Galisonga filed an appeal challenging the conviction.

In his appeal, Kamyuka submits that the lower court erred in law and facts when it convicted him on speculation. "Whereas it is on court record that Ahimbisibwe died of injuries, there was no proof to that effect."

He also noted that Kwesiga failed to substantiate the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, which was tainted with inconsistencies.