Guvnor murder suspect gets two city lawyers

By Reginah Nalunga & Michael Odeng

KAMPALA - Ivan Kamyuka, the 33-year-old man accused of stabbing to death a fellow socialite in Kampala’s Club Guvnor, has hired two prominent city lawyers to defend him.

Kamyuka, a human resource manager of Lake Bounty Limited, a fish processing and exporting company, had earlier been arraigned before court, charged with murder and remanded to Luzira Prisons without being represented by a lawyer.

But when the case came up for mention before Nakawa Court Grade One Magistrate Christine Nantege, lawyers Julius Galisonga and Ivan Mugabi represented him.

According to the charge sheet, Kamyuka, a resident of Kisaasi- Kyanja in Nakawa division, is accused of fatally stabbing Johnnie Ahimbisibwe on August 2, 2015 in Guvnor on First Street, Industrial Area in Kampala.

Prosecution alleges that Kamyuka hit Ahimbisibwe with a broken glass. Ahimbisibwe was moments later rushed to Case Medical Centre in Kampala, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Kamyuka appeared calm before the magistrate.

After court adjourned the case, Kamyuka and his lawyers met for about two minutes. The state prosecutor, Joyce Ayango, asked court for an adjournment so that she can find out the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DDP) position on the case as far as investigations are concerned.

“I pray for an adjournment because investigations into the matter are still ongoing,” she requested.

The magistrate adjourned the proceedings to September 10 and sent Kamyuka back to Luzira Prisons.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Galisonga said the DPP has to conclude investigations and determine whether the accused should face manslaughter or murder charges.

A person convicted of manslaughter is liable to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, but court has the discretion of giving a lesser sentence, while murder attracts a maximum penalty of death by hanging on conviction.

About 20 relatives of the deceased jammed the court premises clad in black T-shirts bearing the deceased’s portrait with messages “Justice for Johnnie” and “RIP Johnnie Ahimbisibwe”.

Kamyuka was escorted by four armed prison warders and two Police officers back to the court cell to protect him from an angry mob.