Katuramu Must Hang, Says Court
May 21, 2003
IT is final. The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the former Toro Prime Minister, John Sanyu Katuramu, must hang for murdering Prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma.
By Hillary Nsambu
IT is final. The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the former Toro Prime Minister, John Sanyu Katuramu, must hang for murdering Prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma. The Supreme Court is the last court of appeal.
Katuramu, who was found guilty of financing Kijanangoma’s murder, will go to the gallows with his nephew, Patrick Kwezi, who was found guilty of coordinating the plot and paying the killer’s fee before and after the murder.
Also to hang is Alex Twinomugisha alias Twine, a former Kadogo (young soldier), who was found guilty of killing the prince and Steven Kaganda alias Mulokole, a private guard at Palace View Bar in Fort Portal on March 25, 1999.
Only the President can save them from the gallows through the prerogative of mercy.
Justices Arthur Oder, John Wilson Tsekooko, George William Kanyeihamba, Cosma Kato and Alfred Karokora unanimously dismissed all the three men’s grounds of appeal, saying they did not have any merit.
Karokora delivered the 46-page judgement that took him two hours and 10 minutes to read.
The courtroom was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
“We are satisfied that there was ample evidence to justify the conviction and death sentence,†he said.
The Supreme Court justices said the Court of Appeal was right to uphold the trial judge’s ruling and conviction.
Justice John Bosco Katutsi on September 12, 2001, found Katuramu and his accomplices guilty of the murder.
Katuramu was calm and left no doubt that he was not surprised by the verdict. He stood up and talked to his lawyers, his face without a sign of fear of the gallows he had been condemned to.
The three convicts were whisked into the courtroom at 9:15am under heavy escort by security officers.
While Twinomugisha and Kwezi were handcuffed, Katuramu, who wore a black striped suit, a white shirt, a necktie and black pair of shoes, was not.
After the ruling, a Prisons officer declared to the sullen-faced relatives and friends that they would have no access to the convicts.
The Supreme Court also agreed with the Court of Appeal that Twinomugisha freely made a detailed confession statement that fitted in with the rest of the prosecution evidence.
Twinomugisha had confessed to the Police Katuramu hired them at a fee of sh5m and was to provide fuel worth sh1m.
Ends
IT is final. The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the former Toro Prime Minister, John Sanyu Katuramu, must hang for murdering Prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma. The Supreme Court is the last court of appeal.
Katuramu, who was found guilty of financing Kijanangoma’s murder, will go to the gallows with his nephew, Patrick Kwezi, who was found guilty of coordinating the plot and paying the killer’s fee before and after the murder.
Also to hang is Alex Twinomugisha alias Twine, a former Kadogo (young soldier), who was found guilty of killing the prince and Steven Kaganda alias Mulokole, a private guard at Palace View Bar in Fort Portal on March 25, 1999.
Only the President can save them from the gallows through the prerogative of mercy.
Justices Arthur Oder, John Wilson Tsekooko, George William Kanyeihamba, Cosma Kato and Alfred Karokora unanimously dismissed all the three men’s grounds of appeal, saying they did not have any merit.
Karokora delivered the 46-page judgement that took him two hours and 10 minutes to read.
The courtroom was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
“We are satisfied that there was ample evidence to justify the conviction and death sentence,†he said.
The Supreme Court justices said the Court of Appeal was right to uphold the trial judge’s ruling and conviction.
Justice John Bosco Katutsi on September 12, 2001, found Katuramu and his accomplices guilty of the murder.
Katuramu was calm and left no doubt that he was not surprised by the verdict. He stood up and talked to his lawyers, his face without a sign of fear of the gallows he had been condemned to.
The three convicts were whisked into the courtroom at 9:15am under heavy escort by security officers.
While Twinomugisha and Kwezi were handcuffed, Katuramu, who wore a black striped suit, a white shirt, a necktie and black pair of shoes, was not.
After the ruling, a Prisons officer declared to the sullen-faced relatives and friends that they would have no access to the convicts.
The Supreme Court also agreed with the Court of Appeal that Twinomugisha freely made a detailed confession statement that fitted in with the rest of the prosecution evidence.
Twinomugisha had confessed to the Police Katuramu hired them at a fee of sh5m and was to provide fuel worth sh1m.
Ends