Katuramu Sentenced To Death For Murder

Sep 12, 2001

FORMER Toro Prime Minister John Sanyu Katuramu and two others are to hang for the murder of Prince Happy Kijanangoma.

By Edith Kimuli And Hillary Nsambu FORMER Toro Prime Minister John Sanyu Katuramu and two others are to hang for the murder of Prince Happy Kijanangoma. Katuramu, his nephew Patrick Kwezi and Alex Twinomugisha, a former UPDF kadogo, were yesterday convicted of murdering Kijanangoma and a guard, Stephen Kaganda, on March 25, 1999. Justice J.B. Katutsi, however, acquitted Bob Weswala, who had been accused of hiring out a gun to the assailants, and Jimmy Okumu Rombo, who booked in Hotel Continental, Fort Portal, with the assailants a few days before the murder. Lawyer Edward Muguluma represented Weswala and Rombo. They were, however, taken back to Luzira Prisons because they have other cases against them. Prosecution was led by Senior Principal State Attorney Simon Byabakama Mugenyi. Immediately after conviction, Katuramu, Kwezi and Twinomugisha were handcuffed by the prison warders and whisked to a prison pick-up truck under heavy escort. Katuramu’s relatives, including his wife, remained in the courtroom sobbing for over 30 minutes. Katutsi said Katuramu was the one who procured the killers although prosecution did not have to prove his motive. He said the prosecution had proved that Katuramu paid the killers, gave them transport from and back to Kampala and that they stayed at his farm the night of the murder. “I don’t care what dust this raises,” Katutsi said after the conviction. Katuramu, who was dressed in a dark jacket and tie, dropped a book in which he was writing as soon as he was convicted. He, however, remained calm as he was handcuffed. The judge also ruled that he believed the evidence of an eyewitness Felly Babara that Twinomugisha was the man who pulled the trigger at Kijanangoma at Palace View Bar in Fort Portal. Twinomugisha also admitted the murder in his confession statement. He, however, looked shocked on conviction. Katutsi dismissed Kwezi’s defence that he did not know anything about the murder. Kwezi remained calm on conviction and moved close to the prison warder so he could be handcuffed. He said Kwezi was involved in the commissioning of the offence by carrying out Katuramu’s instructions to drive the vehicle that was involved in the murder. The judge said Kwezi was in Fort Portal on March 21, 1999 and that he asked for the car, registration number 576 UDQ, from the Voice of Toro (VOT) manager Ernest Nkoba on Katuramu’s instructions. On March 23, Kwezi asked Nkoba for money and on March 26, 1999 the car was found abandoned behind the VOT building. Katutsi acquitted Weswala and said, “Thanks to D/SP Omoding, this criminal is going out scot free.” He said Weswala was accused of supplying an AK-47 to the assailants, but this was only stated in Twinomugisha’s confession statement. He said if Omoding had handled Weswala skillfully, more could have been revealed. Weswala shouted “Mwana bampoye”(I have defeated them) as he returned to the cells. Katutsi said the only evidence against Rombo was that he stayed at Hotel Continental on March 22, to March 24, 1999. “He could have been with the assassins but shortly before the act disassociated with them,” Katutsi said. Mr. Porotazio Ayigihugu represented Katuramu, Ezekiel Tayebwa represented Twinomugisha, while Kwezi was represented by Nsubuga-Mubiru. Before the judgement, Katutsi blamed Ayigihugu for attacking the assessors for their opinion that court convicts all the accused. Toro Princess Elizabeth Bagaya attended the hearing. The courtroom was packed and some people had to listen from the windows. Ends

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