Convict Katuramu, Say Court Assessors

By Hillary Nsambu ASSESSORS in the double murder case against former Toro Premier John Sanyu Katuramu yesterday advised court to convict him. Mr. B.S. Kakumba Luyonde and Ms Juliet Kasendwa told Justice J.B Katutsi in two separate opinions, that Katuramu procured the killers of Prince Happy Kijanangoma. Court set its judgement for September 12. On conviction, the five men will face the gallows. The assessors said there was enough evidence to convict the four other men Katuramu is jointly charged with. Katuramu, Alex Twinomugisha, Bob Weswala, Patrick Kwezi and Jimmy Okumu Rombo allegedly killed Kijanangoma and Stephen Kaganda at Palace View Bar in Fort-Portal on March 25, 1999. The assessors said they believed prosecution evidence against Twinomugisha because it corroborated a confession statement he gave to the Police and was tendered in court as evidence. They said a state witness, Felly Babara, identified him as the assailant to the Police. The assessors dismissed Twinomugisha’s defence that he was out of the country on the day Kijanangoma was killed, as a forgery. The assessors advised Justice Katutsi to convict Katuramu’s nephew, Patrick Kwezi, saying there was enough evidence that he assisted Katuramu in the communication with the assailants. The court assessors also advised the judge to convict Bob Weswala, saying he provided the gun that was used to shoot Kijanangoma. They accepted as truthful, the evidence of Maj. Kayanja Muhanga, who arrested Okumu Rombo and that of Jane Nshima, who booked him in a Hotel in Fort Portal, a couple of days before the murder. The trial started on January 29, this year. The accused were arrested and charged last year and have been on remand since then. The State is represented by Senior Principal State Attorney Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, while the accused are represented by Ezekiel Tayebwa, Nsubuga-Mubiru, Protazio .S. Ayigihugu and Edward Ddamulira Muguluma. Ends