Kananura, co-accused give unsworn evidence in murder case

Mar 09, 2017

Although Kananura together with his brother Abaas Raymond, Samuel Muzolewa, Cyrus Maganda and Jacob Onyango revealed to court presided over Judge Joseph Murangira that they were Christians, they gave unsworn testimony in their defence.

 Andrew Kananura alias Desh at court

City businessman Andrew Kananura alias Desh and his co-accused in the murder of his employee today (Thursday) chose to give unsworn testimony before High Court in Kampala.
 
Although Kananura together with his brother Abaas Raymond, Samuel Muzolewa, Cyrus Maganda and Jacob Onyango revealed to court presided over Judge Joseph Murangira that they were Christians, they gave unsworn testimony in their defence.
 
For the adversarial trial, the oath symbolizes the ascertainment of truth. According to the law, when a witness gives unsworn evidence, he or she cannot be cross-examined.
 
Clad in a stripped black short sleeved shirt and a pair of black trousers, Kananura said that the charge of murder preferred against him and his co-accused was trumped up by the Police.
 
"The file was concocted by Police officers attached to Kiira Police Station to frame me for the case of murder. I would never before God and my family kill anyone for money or gold because I have lived as a Christian all my life," Kananura lamented.
 
He revealed that the charges against him were trumped up by a Police officer he identified only as Mpande and Sulait Ssemakula who had recently lost a fraud case against him over the sale of a grader 140OG-Caterpillar.  
 
Kananura said Mpande went ahead to arrest his workers and forced them to confess that he killed Kateregga. 
 
He futher adds that Mpande continued harassing relatives of the deceased, as he coerced them to make false statements against him.
 
The accused were giving their defence in a case, where they are alleged to have tortured Badru Kateregga to death on September 30, 2012 at Panamera bar and lounge, located in the city suburb of Naguru after they found him with a tip of sh30, 000 that exceeded the allowed amount to be held by any worker.
 
According to the Penal Code Act (PCA), any person who is convicted of murder faces a maximum penalty of death. 
 
Kananura said he has never assaulted Kateregga, and learnt about his death through a cellphone call from his private security guards (bouncers). He disclosed that the deceased had worked at the bar for only 10 days.
"As soon as I drove to Kiira Police station with one Kenneth Kirenzi who had earlier confessed that he had been stealing money from the bar, I received a message stating that people were fighting at the bar and I told my 'bouncers' to enforce security and I went home," he explains.
 
However, while at home Kananura said he received a call from one Charles informing him that one of the victims was bleeding profusely and needed immediate medical attention. 
 
This, Kananura said prompted him to go to Naguru hospital to look for an ambulance and called Kiira road DPC Walugembe to help him go to the scene after failing to get it and went home to sleep.
 
Thereafter, he said he received the fourth phone call from Charles again, saying that the man was dying, prompting him to dash at the bar, where he met a Police lady, who informed him that Kateregga was dead. Kananura said that bouncer Charles has disappeared.
 
Accused Maganda, 33, revealed that he was detained for two weeks at Kiira Police Station, as afande Mpande forced him to pin Kananura and his brother. He added that Mpande said if he adhered to their request, they would get sh300m. 
 
"Afande Mpande said he wanted to strike a deal with me, saying he will help me get out of the cell on condition that I made a statement stating that, I saw Kananura and his brother beating Kateregga to death," he disclosed. 
 
Kananura's brother, Raymond disclosed that sh300, 000 was found in the pants of late Kateregga, while bank statements that reflected sh1.6m and sh1.4m was found with Kenneth Kirenzi, who is alleged to have given Kateregga a tip of sh30,000. 
 
"I had no cause to hurt anyone for money. In regard to whatever has been reported in the media I ask court to find us innocent because, we did not commit the crime," Raymond pleaded with court.
 

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