Kanyamunyu trial resumes in October - Principal Judge

COURT|MURDER|CRIME

KAMPALA - The trial of businessman, Mathew Kanyamunyu, indicted with the murder of child rights activist, Kenneth Watmon Akena, resumes next month, Principal Judge Dr Flavian Zeija, has said.  

In an exclusive interview with NewVision on Wednesday (September 23, 2020), Zeija revealed that the case is among those set to be heard in the next High Court criminal session scheduled to commence in October this year.  

"The trial of Kanyamunyu had been halted because the criminal session had ended and there was no money to conclude it.  The case however has been fixed for hearing in the next criminal session, which commences in October," Zeija said.  

Asked whether the court will consider Kanyamunyu's reconciliation talks with Akena's family members he said, "Reconciliation is encouraged but we shall have to wait for the trial to resume and see what transpires."  

About a fortnight ago, Kanyamunyu reached out to Akena's family and apologised to them.  

"To be honest, I would be lying to you if I told you that I have fully comprehended the tragedy of that day up to today. The foolishness, the evil that I exhibited on that day is not something I knew was in me but now I recognise that deep within me there is evil that I do not know about," Kanyamunyu said.  

He added, "It is foolishness that I didn't know about and I don't think I will comprehend fully ever the magnitude and that is the reason that I am remorseful, I am sorry and the reason I ask for your forgiveness, understanding and for time for this healing process to begin and time for me to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy."  

Kanyamunyu is battling the charges together with his brother Joseph Kanyamunyu and girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari.  

Prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on November 12, 2016 along Kampala-Jinja Road opposite Malik car bond with malice aforethought caused the death of Akena.  

Kanyamunyu is suspected to have shot Akena in the stomach over the denting of his car. Akena died a day after at Norvik Hospital, on Bombo Road in Kampala.  

Joseph Kanyamunyu was added on the charge for purportedly hiding the pistol that Kanyamunyu allegedly used to shoot Akena.  

Kanyamunyu's trial was adjourned indefinitely by High Court Judge Stephen Mubiru on February 21, this year after his criminal session ended without concluding the matter.      

He returned the file to the Kampala based criminal division of the High Court deputy registrar Mary Ikit for reallocation in the next convenient criminal session.  Mubiru is the Gulu High Court resident Judge.  

Before the matter could be relocated, COVID-19 pandemic invaded the country, which prompted the government to institute a lock down.  This compelled Chief Justice emeritus Brat Katureebe to suspend court trials.  

At the time of suspension of the trial, thirteen witnesses had testified in the matter including Robinah Kirinya, a principal analyst from the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL), who told court that gunshot residues were found on Kanyamunyu's clothes.