Appeal against Kasiwukira widow's acquittal begins

Mar 05, 2019

In 2016, High Court judge Wilson Musene acquitted Sarah Nabikolo of murder charges

The Court of Appeal will on Tuesday hear an application, in which the state is challenging the acquittal of Sarah Nabikolo, the widow of slain businessman Eriya Bugembe Ssebunya alias Kasiwukira, on murder charges.

Kasiwukira was on October 17, 2014, murdered at about 6:00 am near his home in Muyenga diplomatic zone. A speeding car knocked him down as he jogged in the neighbourhood.

Nabikolo's case will be presided over by a panel of three judges led by Justice Elizabeth Musoke. Others are Hellen Obura and Ezekiel Muhanguzi.

Nabikolo's cousin Sandra Nakungu and Police officer Ashraf Jaden, who are seeking to overturn their 20-year-jail sentences will also appear before the same panel.

In 2016, High Court judge Wilson Musene acquitted Nabikolo of murder charges, saying prosecution did not adduce enough evidence pinning her but jailed Nakungu and Jaden for their role in Kasiwukira's death.   

 abikolo akungu and olice officer shraf aden(L-R) Nabikolo, Nakungu and Police officer Ashraf Jaden.

 

In his ruling, Musene resolved that Nakungu owned the car which knocked Kasiwukira dead and that Jaden drove the vehicle.

However, acquitting Nabikolo left questions about who financed the plot. The prosecution had maintained that Nakungu and Jaden were the foot soldiers as Nabikolo worked behind the scenes, providing cash.  

To prove that Nabikolo was the financier, the prosecution presented the evidence of security operative Richard Byamukama, who said Nakungu hired him to kill Kasiwukira.

Byamukama testified that Nakungu told him it was Nabikolo who wanted Kasiwukira dead because he practised witchcraft.

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