Jailed ex-MP Godi loses appeal
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by former Arua Municipality Member of Parliament Hussein Akbar Godi (Pictured) challenging his conviction and sentence for killing his wife seven years ago. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa
KAMPALA. The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by former Arua Municipality Member of Parliament Hussein Akbar Godi challenging his conviction and sentence for killing his wife seven years ago.
A panel of five justices on Wednesday ruled that Godi’s appeal had no merit.
Mr Godi had filed an appeal challenging the conviction and a 25-year jail punishment handed to him in 2011 before the High Court in Mukono.
Presiding Judge Lawrence Gidudu sentenced the former legislator to imprisonment for the murder of his 19-year-old wife Rehema Caeser.
The country’s highest appellate court on Tuesday issued a Production Warrant directing Prisons authorities at Luzira to present Mr Godi Wednesday morning.
In their ruling on Wednesday, five justices who included Bart Katurebe, Jotham Tumwesigye, Christine Kitumba and Galdino Moro Okello said the sentencing judge (Gidudu) did not err in law as alleged by Godi when he convicted him of his wife's murder.
In 2011, Justice Gidudu convicted Godi arguing that the evidence of 30 prosecution witnesses presented by the state then led by Joan Kagezi (RIP) was sufficient to pin him.
He said that prosecution adduced evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Godi shot dead Rehema at Lukojja village in Nama sub-county, Mukono district on 4th December 2008.
The court held that prosecution proved that two bullet cartridges found at the murder scene, came from the pistol owned by the MP, while the soil sample got from Godi’s shoes was similar to that at the murder scene.
However, Mr Godi being dissatisfied with the ruling of the High court appealed against the High Court decision but the punishment was upheld in July 2013 upheld.
