Court issues summons against Katanga’s widow, daughter over businessman’s death

By URN

The Nakawa Chief  Magistrate’s Court  has issued a second set of  Criminal Summons against Molly Katanga and her Daughter Martha Nkwanzi, requiring them to appear in court and be charged with the murder of businessman Henry Katanga.

The summons were issued  on Monday by the Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza against Katanga who is the widow of the deceased and her daughter after they failed to show up in court as earlier summoned on November 21st 2023.

The summons were issued shortly after remanding three of their co accused who have further been  remanded.

The three are the deceased’s 31-year-old  daughter Patricia Kakwanzi who is charged  with  Destroying evidence, 30-year-old  George  Amanyire who was the  Shamba boy at Katanga’s home  and Nursing Officer Otai Charles, who are on charges of  being Accessories after the fact (of murder).

According to the  Prosecution ,  Katanga  was shot dead on November 2nd 2023 at Mbuya Chwa Two Road, Nakawa Division Kampala Capital City by his 55-year-old wife Molly Katanga.

Her daughters –  Nkwanzi Martha Katanga – a student residing at Mbuya and Kakwanza Patricia – a business woman residing at Mbuya, knowing that diverse things at the scene of crime maybe required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, removed or destroyed them and thus rendered them illegible for  identification.

Prosecution further states that Amanyire  and Otai received or assisted other people who were to their knowledge liable for an offence, in order to enable them escape punishment.

However, when the matter came up on Monday, Molly Katanga and Nkwanzi did not show up on grounds  that  they are respectively  admitted at International Hospital in Kampala -IHK and Roswell Women  and Children Hospital.

Instead, they have  sent a team of  lawyers comprised of  Elison Karuhanga, Bruce Musinguzi and  Jet Tumwebaze to inform court  that Molly Katanga is advised to be kept under a  doctor’s  watch due to severe head and brain  injuries and a hand fracture she suffered.  

To support their arguments , the lawyers  have then presented a letter and still pictures explaining that Molly Katanga  was operated upon for those injuries  and  she is therefore not yet stable to attend court .

Regarding her daughter Nkwanzi, the court has heard she has  just given birth at Rosewell  Hospital and suffers from post partem effects for which doctors recommended that she equally needs close supervision.

As such , the  lawyers  have promised to bring the widow and her daughter Nkwazi as soon as they get well so as to be charged with the offenses against them.

However, the Prosecution led by Mariam Kulthum asked for a warrant of arrest against the widow and her daughter Nkwanzi saying that they snubbed court and also added that the investigations are still ongoing in this case.

After hearing from both parties, the Chief Magistrate  Kakooza has declined to issue a warrant of arrest and instead extended the criminal summons requiring the two to appear in court on January 8th  2024 for reading of charges against them.The three who were charged last month have also been further remanded until then.

The proceedings in a fully packed court room  today amidst a heavy down power occured amidst  Katanga’s relatives’ silent demonstration of wearing T-shirts and helding placards demanding for justice for their murdered relative. 

Meanwhile , the same court has refused to hear a bail application by  the three accused persons who were charged earlier  and advised them to apply in the High Court which has  the original jurisdiction to handle capital offenses.  

Also, the mother of the deceased Mirian Kyobuhoro and his uncles have  hired the former Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana to follow the trial on their behalf , something that has not sat in well with the Defence team.

The defense team says these  are hijacking the trial from the Director of Public Prosecutions -DDP and therefore the  justice  of their clients is at stake because of revenge that is apparently coming from within the state. 

They say Rukutana  should tell the relatives to walk to police record their  statements which would be used at trial .

As this criminal case is ongoing, there is another pending application for inquest before the Civil Division of the High Court filed by Brigadier General Freddie Karara Machwa, an uncle of the deceased and Bwaniaga Moses Taremwa a brother in law of the deceased who wants the court to allow their application, for understanding the clear circumstances leading to the death of their relative. This is because these  believe Katanga was shot dead but several people whom they list in their ex parte application  including top Army Generals in the UPDF and Colonels as well as some  top Police Commanders, and a Minister, to be shielding the truth of murder from coming out and instead to be fronting a narrative that Katanga died of suicide, and also going ahead to accuse them of having aided the widow and her daughter to disguise the murder as a suicide case, tampering with CCTV as well as scene of crime, among other accusations.

Henry Katanga and his wife Molly Katanga had been supplying items to key government agencies including the Ministry of Defense. Katanga was one of the Ankole princes while his wife Molly Katanga is a relative and close confidant to key government and security officials who were allegedly trying to save her from facing murder offenses.

Tricia Katanga, who was called in later after the murder had happened, has not been charged with any offence. She will perhaps appear as a witness against her mother and sister.